Alma & Primo VE Sandboxes
Q: Do we have access to the Alma and Primo Sandboxes?
A: Yes, access has been provided in Basecamp. The instructions and links for the Sandboxes are located in Docs & Files, in the Sandbox Information file.
Q: Does each college have its own Alma Sandbox?
A: There are two Institution Zone Alma Sandboxes. Ex Libris has found that to be sufficient in other projects. If issues arise, Ex Libris will determine if another Institution Zone Sandbox is needed. There is also one Network Zone Alma Sandbox.
Q: Will Sandboxes be refreshed once in a while?
A: Yes, they will be refreshed quarterly upon request.
Alma Administration Certification
Q: Do we have to have a certified Alma Administrator in our college?
A: No, OCLS can act as an Administrator on your behalf. The Implementation Steering Committee does recommend that each college has at least one person certified.
Q: Is there a cap to how many people can take the Alma Administrator Certification?
A: No, there is no cap to how many people can take the Alma Administration Certification.
Q: When do new Alma Administrators need to complete certification by?
A: Register and start going through the self-paced training after the delivery of the Test Load.
Complete certification prior to the start of Cutover.
Q: Who should be certified?
A: Individuals at your institution who will be responsible for overall system configuration changes.
Q: What’s the estimated course duration/load time?
A: There are around 49 sessions in total, an average of 8 minutes each. The entire course is around 4 hours of online training, with a 40-question exam covering all the major Alma functional areas.
Q: Why is certification important?
A: It ensures that colleges have a level of knowledge and expertise required to successfully manage their Alma configurations while in production.
Basecamp
Q: Is Basecamp a collaboration tool? Will we use Basecamp and and Confluence?
A: Yes, Basecamp is Ex Libris’s collaboration tool. It will host detailed Ex Libris project information, including a message board, high-level activities and tasks, documents, etc. Confluence is used by the PMO and will have reminders, communications, project overview, committee information, etc.
For information on how to use these tools, use the following links:
Q: Does each college have its own Basecamp?
A: There is one Basecamp with a message board for questions, project activities (To Dos) managed by Ex Libris PM, documents and calendar. About 75% of content on Basecamp will probably be applicable to all colleges with some components that are unique to specific colleges. There are options to limit information you see and are notified about from Basecamp.
Q: How can I manage all the notifications/emails from Basecamp?
Data Clean Up
Q: If we want to clean up our records, when to we have to have it done by?
A: If your college intends to clean up data in advance, completing the clean up before your first data extraction is ideal.
There is time between loads to update authority records. Also, tools are available to help with data clean up (e.g., deleting duplications, mass updates).
NOTE Data extracts for non-SIRSI colleges are due Oct. 1, SIRSI colleges are due Oct. 15.
Q: What is the difference between electronic resources and digital resources?
A: The differences are outlined in the following table:
Digital | Electronic |
|---|
Objects owned by institution | Objects owned by vendor |
Available per the institution’s terms | Available via subscription, open access or contract |
Metadata stored in Alma | Metadata stored in Alma |
Asset files managed in Alma or institutional repository | Asset files are managed by vendor |
Q: What does "fulfillment" refer to in Alma?
A: It refers to circulation. In Alma, fulfillment is the process by which patrons borrow and return physical resources, or access electronic or digital resources, from the institution.
Digital Repositories
Q: If we use Alma to manage digital objects, does it mean we can stop using those digital repositories?
Primo VE
Q: When do we first get access to the Primo VE interface?
A: Access is given in the Define Phase at the beginning of December and will continue in the Build Phase.
Project Details & Meetings
Q: Are all colleges obligated to cut over on the same date or can we each have a custom date? And for Go Live date?
A: Yes, in principle, all colleges will cut over on the same date and have the same Go Live Date.
Q: How long will regular meetings be during onboarding?
A: Usually one hour. Occasionally, meetings may be shorter or longer if needed.
Q: How long will project status meetings be?
A: One hour two times per week. Meetings may also include training questions, tips and tricks, etc.
Q: Do we have a tentative schedule for the project deliverables and tasks?
A: Please see the Project Overview page.
Q: Is there a high-level schedule for Onboarding activities?
A: Yes, there is a schedule of activities, meetings and milestones available on Basecamp. There is also an Onboarding Phase Meeting Schedule on Confluence.
Third Party Integration
Q: For the Third Party Integration meeting, do we invite IT staff?
A: Yes, it is recommended to invite the appropriate IT staff from your college.
Q: Are self-check machines and book lending machines included at some phase (SIP2 connections and Stunnel)?
A: Yes, they need to be part of the third party integration.
Q: Are RFID readers considered part of third party integration from Ex Libris's perspective?
A: Yes, they should be included in the Third Party Integration Form.
Q: Can IT get access to Basecamp for the third-party integrations?
A: Ex Libris recommends completing the Third Party Integration Form first. Then, based on that, they will provide documentation links for each piece of software, which should provide the specific information for IT. Ex Libris will provide troubleshooting sessions if needed.
a high level schedule following the Onboarding activities? - such as November to April, May, June, Jul Do you have a high level schedule following the Onboarding activities? - such as November to April, May, June, July. Do you have a high level schedule following the Onboarding activities? - such as November to April, May, June, July.