Alma Resource Management

It is important to use unique identifiers to retrieve the best repository search results in Alma. The repository search can be as simple or as advanced as is required to limit the search results to a usable size.
Unique identifiers include:

• OCLC number
• ISBN
• ISSN
• Other Standard Numbers
• MMS ID 

Physical Bib Record Search Types:

• All Titles - use this search to find all bib records in the IZ and NZ with and without inventory
• Physical Titles - use this search to find bib records in the IZ that contain inventory. You must have at least one physical holdings associated with the record in order to retrieve it using a Physical Titles search

The Network Zone provides the benefit of efficient suny-wide cataloging:

• Chances are good that the bib record you need may have already been added to the NZ by someone at another campus
• If the bib record that you need does not exist yet in the NZ, you may export it from OCLC
• If a bib record does not exist in either the NZ or OCLC yet, you may create a brief bib for ordering purposes

Finding Bibliographic Records:

1. Perform an All Tiles simple or advanced repository search in the NZ. Use enough information to be able to retrieve and identify the correct bib record, such as ISBN/ISSN/Other Standard Number, OCLC Number, Creator (Author), Title, etc.
2. Use facets on the left-side to limit the results to a specific resource type
3. Click on the title link for the record and review bib record using the following MARC fields:

   MARC Field	MARC Definition
   Brief Level	If more than one record exists, the brief level may help you determine which record to use. Potentially, the higher the brief level, the better the bib record. Brief levels are from 01-10. 01 being the lowest and used for brief level and brief vendor records and 10 being the highest for DLC and PCC records.
   020 (ISBN), 022 (ISSN), or 024 (Other System Number)	Searching by the ISBN, ISSN, or Other System Number will produce more refined repository results.
   040 (Cataloging Source)	040 $$a identifies who created the OCLC master record. $$a DLC is for records created by the Library of Congress and tend to be the "best" record. Other library's cataloging of high quality can also be used when determining what bib record to use 040 $$b eng - per MSP-12 the language of cataloging for the SUNY NZ is English.
   042 (Authorization Code)	042 $$a is for LAC, LC, NLM, and Program for Cooperative Cataloging use only. PCC in 042 $$a tend to be higher quality bib records
   100 (Personal Name) /110 $$a (Corporate Name)	100 and 110 $$a is the main entry when the information is clearly stated. It is the creator statement. 100 - author's name. 110- Corporate body's name.
   245 (Title Statement)	245 $$a is the title. 245 $$b is the remainder of the title. 245 $$c Statement of responsibility is helpful when there is no MARC fields 100 or 110. 245 $$h General Material Designator for pre-RDA bib records. It contains the GMD in brackets, [videorecording].
   250 (Edition Statement)	250 $$a contains the edition statement if one exists.
   260/264 (Publication Information)	260/264 $$a Place of Publication. 260/264 $$b Name of Publisher. 260/264 $$c Date of publication.  MARC 260 is used for pre-RDA bib records.
   300 (Physical Description)	300 $$a is the extent of the item. The number of volumes, pages, leaves etc. 300 $$b is for other physical details, such as illustrations, maps, etc. 300 $$c is for the dimension of the item size
   336/337/338	MARC fields 336, 337, and 338 will appear in RDA bib records or pre-RDA records that have been updated in the OCLC master record 336 (content type) 337 (media type) 338 (carrier type)

4. When the correct record is identified it may be Ordered or used for inventory
5. If the correct bib record is not yet identified:
   • Refining your search or
   • Export the desired bib record from OCLC to the NZ 

The same "new title" NZ search methods apply for searching the NZ or the IZ for titles that you already own.

Tips:

• Performing a "Physical Title" search will only retrieve bib records that contain physical inventory. Physical inventory includes holdings and item records.
• Performing an "All Title" search will return all bib records in the IZ or the NZ regardless of physical inventory
• You can use an NZ MMS id to find an NZ-linked bib record in your IZ by searching for it as a Keyword rather than an MMS ID because the Keyword search includes the 001 field, where the NZ MMS ID is stored on the IZ version.

• Searching in Alma
• Repository Search, Indexing