Select your college above or begin researching district library resources below.
Got a question? Email Ann Roselle (ann.roselle@phoenixcollege.edu)
Aren't we going to apply anonymization in Alma to protect patron privacy?
Absolutely! Alma offers several anonymization options to protect patron privacy, and we'll be working with all the colleges to ensure our configuration meets everyone's needs.
What's the difference between the "Production Environment" and the "Sandbox"?
The Production Environment, aka test environment, is an actual working version of Alma using our own data (e.g., users, materials, transactions, etc.) but has been placed into an isolated environment separate from our current and ongoing Symphony system. The data was extracted from Symphony in May and loaded into the Production Environment to allow you to practice using Alma and get comfortable with its features without affecting our current and ongoing Symphony data. Up until November 20th, you are free to go into the Production Environment and investigate its features, play with its features, and create transactions - e.g., check out, check-in, add debt, waive debt, etc. without worrying about "messing anything up."
The Sandbox is an artificially created environment that simulates a library. None of the data is real, and you cannot do any damage by "playing" in the Sandbox. You can continue practicing in the Sandbox after November 20th.
What is Basecamp?
Basecamp is the project management site used by Ex Libris and the Alma/Primo VE Implementation Team to communicate and manage the migration to Alma/Primo VE. It is not accessible to everyone. However, all of the "good stuff" that is posted there has been made available for everyone on our training guide.
Will it be possible to alter the "theme" or colors on the screen in Alma?
The ability to choose your own color scheme is scheduled for the August release.
Cutover vs. go live, what's the difference?
During the cutover period, our old systems (Symphony/Summon) are still in place as we fully prepare our new system (Alma Primo VE). We will have a Symphony technical freeze (Nov 8th) and an Alma configuration freeze (Nov. 20th). Cutover occurs on Nov 21st. Our "go live" date is December 18, 2024. This is when Alma becomes our official system that everyone will use for all operations.
What is the CDI?
It's a huge (over 5 billion records), searchable database used by libraries that have implemented Alma Primo VE. Think of it as a giant library search engine with online articles, e-books, or other resources.
What happens to the people who were not placed in working groups?
All the colleges are being asked to identify for every employee (staff/librarians) the work tasks they complete. We'll then use this information to determine the training the employee needs and how to set up their roles/permissions in Alma so that they can do their job. The training you receive might come directly from Ex Libris in real-time, or you might be asked to watch a video with follow-up training led by an MCCCD employee.
Is there a preferred browser for Alma?
Alma is certified for all leading browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Check out Ex Libris’s information about accessibility and keyboard shortcuts.
Will we be able to override a patron who has hit the limit on renewals?
We will have this functionality, but it will likely not look the same as Symphony, where you are prompted to override. Please read Managing Patron Services at a Circulation Desk for more information.
We encountered a timeout while viewing a patron record while "playing" in the sandbox. How much time do we have, and can that time be adjusted?
Based on the documentation, the session timeout is set to 60 minutes and is not configurable.
Will the Institution in Alma be MCCCD Libraries?
Yes, the Institution is MCCCD. The 10 colleges represent the Libraries. Each library has Locations where items are located. Check out this short video about the Alma organization for more information.
Will the new system be compatible with our receipt printers?
Ex Libris explained: “We don’t generally keep a list of compatible printers; however, this is a popular question on the Alma listserv.” Check out this Google Doc with the ALMA-L email threads related to printers. You can search (CTL+F) with your printers within this Google Doc. I’ve heard that our sister colleges use Epson printers (TM-TV88 versions).
Will we eventually have a preview site so we can make sure our searches/links are working for our individual colleges?
August 14th is our test load delivery date. Primo VE will likely be released a week or 2 later from that date. If we can stay on schedule, you'll be able to test searches/links starting at the end of August.
In Alma, will all Community Borrower accounts have the same privileges across the District? If each campus wants different levels of privilege for Community Borrowers, will a Community Borrower wishing to use sister colleges need separate accounts with said colleges?
Configuration of user groups is done at the institutional level and lending policies can be configured with user groups as a parameter. Ann's view is that it might benefit us to have a District lending policy for community borrowers rather than different policies at each library until we get more comfortable using the system. The Fulfillment Working Group will be the group responsible for this configuration.
Do we have a Network Zone?
No. We have an Institution Zone (IZ) and a Community Zone (CZ). The IZ is MCCCD Libraries' local institutional data, such as locally managed bibliographic records, locally activated electronic portfolios, and local physical holdings. The CZ is Ex Libris maintained resources available to all Alma institutions. The CZ is the best, because once we activate an electronic resource from the CZ, Ex Libris manages it for us.
What reports are available in Alma?
There are many available reports in Alma Analytics! Analytics includes out-of-the-box dashboards and reports located in the "Alma" shared folder in Analytics. There is also a "Community" folder in Analytics with dashboards and reports that other Alma customers have created. We can also modify any of these reports in our "Institution" folder. Check out:
Can I use my college email address to sign up for Alma-L and Primo-L?
Yes!
What are Alma and Primo VE?
It's an all-in-one cloud-based (SaaS) system! Alma is used to manage our print, electronic, and digital materials with a single interface. Primo VE is a discovery layer over Alma resources and other resources managed by our libraries.
What is Leganto?
It's a handy product for creating, fulfilling, and viewing course reading lists for instructors, librarians, and students. Instructors and librarians can collaboratively create and process reading lists for students. Instructors and/or librarians collect the citations. Instructors can make requests to the librarians who hold, acquire, license, and digitize the citations. Students can easily view and access the citations related to their courses.
What is Library Mobile, powered by campusM?
Our library users can download this app from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Configuration for our Library Mobile app won't happen until we complete our Alma/Primo implementation. So no need to focus on this now, but still - - super cool!
Does Ex Libris offer a mobile staff circulation app?
They sure do! Here's some documentation.
How will we have a successful implementation without Chris Zagar?
Fortunately, we have many individuals across the District with strong systems and technical knowledge. Instead of relying on one person, we'll be working in teams to ensure a successful implementation. If we discover a gap in knowledge or skills that is preventing us from moving forward, we do have some funds to hire outside help.