Part 5: Batch updating Bibliographic Records Using Normalization Rules

The steps below provide a method to test the process for batch updating MARC21 control fields in select bibliographic records in the Alma test environment (also referred to in Go Live Readiness Checklist, page 3).

Note:  this process uses normalization rules that are created and saved in Alma’s Metadata Editor. These rules are retained at cutover. If you are planning to perform certain data clean up tasks after post Go Live, it is suggested that you run these jobs in your test environment, keep notes, then repeat in your production environment after go-live.

Step 1: Create an Itemized Set

Admin > Manage sets > Add Set (Itemized set) > Save  (Example: physical title search to isolate records containing CAT=DVD)

Step 2: Create Normalization Rules (saved at cutover)

Go to: Metadata Editor > Rules. Rules may be available in the ‘Shared’ folder. Rules created by other libraries can be found in the ‘Community’ folder in the Metadata Editor. You may copy any of the rules from the ‘Community’ folder to your ‘Shared’ or ‘Private’ folder, and edit as needed. Go to https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_(English)/Metadata_Management/016Working_with_Rules/020Working_with_Normalization_Rules for more information on record elements, conditions and a list of actions.

Example normalization rules for updating for physical records to include audiovisual elements in control fields:

rule "Change LDR 6 to g for videorecording"
when
(existsControl "LDR.{6,1}")
then
replaceControlContents "LDR.{6,1}" with "g"
end

rule "Add 007 positions 1-2 vd"
when
true
then
addControlField "007.vd"
end

rule "Change 008 #33 to v for videorecording"
when
(existsControl "LDR.{6,1}.g")
then
replaceControlContents "008.{33,1}" with "v"
end

Step 3: Create a Normalization Process

Step 4: Run Job

Admin > Run a Job > Marc 21 Bib normalization > Select the normalization job > Next > select set, etc.