Managing E-Collections in Alma: CZ vs Vendor-Provided Bibliographic Records

Background

Policy governing electronic resources, including e-book titles and packages, acquired as part of electronic core collection (ECC), opt-in, and general local packages purchased and managed as a collection.

Policy Statement

CSU Libraries should manage e-collections via the CZ, if available, irrespective of fullness of records (i.e., quality of the metadata) in lieu of loading vendor-provided bibliographic records in the NZ. Vendor records for e-collections should not be loaded in the NZ.

Rationale

The use of the CZ is to avoid duplication of records in the NZ and to create a collaborative effort throughout the CSU. CSU Libraries can, then, pressure ExL to have them improve metadata for e-book collections in CZ.

Some advantages:

• Efficiencies in centralizing management of e-resources through the CZ;

• Economies of scale (save labor for libraries!);

• Consistent approach;

• Potential for better and more complete data available when assessing the CSU’s overall e-collections.

Some disadvantages:

• Impact to discovery: The quality of the metadata for e-book records from the CZ may negatively impact resource discovery;

• Completeness of packages and frequency of updates of CZ collections may be a problem.

Some Considerations

Note that Alma is not the only source of metadata for e-books and streaming media; Primo Central also indexes metadata. Records must be searched and tested in Primo--beyond Alma, due to Primo Central indexes. If a library chooses to load records to the IZ, then consider contributing collection to the CZ.  However, if a library uses vendor records, sharing of records in the CZ is dependent upon agreement with vendor.

Future Directions

Policy will be evaluated post-implementation. Technical Services Leads, along with ERM and Cataloging task forces, will work with the Discovery Group to re-evaluate CZ collections and impact to discovery.

Action log