Alma-D for Special Collections Access

Harvard Library licensed Alma-D initially for use in Digital Reserves during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The service was initially rolled out for Fall 2020 Course Reserves and the project was successful.   LTS is now accepting pilot projects for use in special collections.  Future licensing of Alma-D at Harvard will be determined based on ongoing library needs.

Alma-D supports the management, hosting, and delivery of digital items, as well as discovery through HOLLIS. 

For restricted items, the digital lending feature supports options to limit use based on multiple parameters: 

• Types of patrons - Access can be allowed for all users, to only patrons with Active Alma accounts/HK holders, or to specific Alma user groups.
• Number of concurrent users - Access can be allowed for a maximum number of simultaneous users, or have no limit.
• Loan length - A session can be timebound for a period of time.
• Download status - Downloads can be explicitly allowed or turned off.
• Custom use statement - A use statement can be provided on screen for the item.  It is also possible to require this access statement to be a click through (i.e. user must Accept terms before seeing digital item). 

Alma-D allows for lending of the following content types.  LTS has test with png, jpg, tif, pdf, mp4, m4v; LTS would partner with owners of additional content types prior to determining if Alma-D functionality meets requirements for delivery. 

• images: jpg, jp2, tif, png
• sound: wav, mp3
• video: mp4, m4v
• document: pdf
• (Some Microsoft types - consult LTS)

Digital representations can be added to Alma through the Alma system by library staff, or via batch processes.

Max file size for uploading via the Alma interface is 1G. Larger files must be submitted to Amazon storage, via LTS. 

To inquire about a pilot project, please submit an Alma Support Ticket.

Pending requests

Active Projects

• University Archives - The “Confidential Guide to Freshman Courses” (Confi Guides)
• University Archives Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Prize Papers

• Harvard Film Archive. Checklist and info doc.