1. Alma Developers Your Library, Extended.
November 2012
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

2. Agenda 1 2 3 4 The Alma Developers Platform
Alma Web Services in Action 3
Alma Apps & Extensions 4
Developing in Alma Developers
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

3. The Alma Developers Platform
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

4. The Alma Developers Platform
Course
Management
Custom Apps
Material
Vendors
Discovery &
Delivery
Student Info
Systems
Resource Sharing
Financial Systems
Alma Developers Platform
Cloud Integration Templates
Apps &
Extensions
Alma
Developers Network
Web Services
Adapters & Interfaces
Publishing Services
Export & Import Services
Alma Extensible Architecture
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

5. The Alma Developers Platform
Course
Management
Custom Apps
Material
Vendors
Discovery &
Delivery
Student Info
Systems
Resource Sharing
Financial Systems
Alma Developers Platform
Cloud Integration Templates
Apps &
Extensions
Alma
Developers Network
Web Services
Adapters & Interfaces
Publishing Services
Export & Import Services
Alma Extensible Architecture
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

6. The Alma Developers Platform
Alma integrations are achieved using a number of techniques
Alma exposes data for integration purposes in a number of ways:
Web Services - Specialized Web Services for specifically tailored purposes
Publishing - The publishing process is used for ongoing synchronization of an external discovery system’s knowledge of Alma’s repository
Data Extraction & Import - Inventory parts of the Alma database may be exported and imported
Publishing
Services
Data Extract
& Import
Adapters &
Interfaces
Web Services
Online integrations with applications
Extending workflows
Exposing repository information to discovery tools
Sharing data with 3rd party solutions
Leveraging Industry standards, adapters and integration interfaces
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

7. The Alma Developers Platform
Publishing
Finance
Systems
Student
Info
Bursar
Bulk BIB Record Manipulation
Web Services
Data Extract & Import
Course
Management
Mobile
Resource
Sharing
Vendor
Systems
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

8. Secured HTTPS Transport
Web Services
Web Services
Leverage the Alma SDK
</>
SOAP Based
Secured HTTPS Transport
Attributes
Alma SDK (Software Development Kit) makes it easier and faster to integrate with Alma
Interacts well across institutional firewalls and proxies
Guaranteed level of reliability and security
Leverage industry standard security protocols
The Alma Web Services are part of Alma’s SDK, and are implemented as plain secured SOAP messages over HTTPS
In addition, Alma’s integrations may be characterized as:
Lookup – Web Services that pull information from Alma, but do not effect Alma data in any way, other than potentially logging an action event
Update – Web Services that affect Alma data by updating or deleting data in the Alma database.
All update Web Services will create an audit trail, allowing for the tracking of any externally triggered data changes
Lookup Services
Update Services
Types
Password and role secured
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

9. + + Publishing Services Publishing Google Scholar
Enriched
Discovery Solution +
Multi Format
MARC
OAI
Incremental
Google Scholar
Resource sharing systems
Etc’
Record relations
Course information
Headings
Automatic updates:
Bibliographic record updates
Availability information
Publishing may be used to interface with any discovery and research interface, such as Google Scholar.
The publishing process is enriched with additional attributes such as
inventory availability (of all formats)
headings
links to course reading lists and more.
Customer controlled processes may be used for incremental and on-going publishing of defined sets of the repository at defined intervals
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

10. Data Extract & Import Services+
Enriched
Holdings Data
Multi Format
MARC
OAI
Repository
Fields from the attached Holdings records may be expanded into the extracted MARC record
Records may be extracted in MARC or MARC XML formats, depending on the expected use of the extracted record
Requests
Fines/Fees
Orders
Invoice
Inventory parts of the Alma database may be exported
Results can be enriched with additional information:
Bibliographic data may be enriched with embedded holdings information
Non Repository
Remote Storage Systems
Bursar Systems
Vendor Systems (Approval Plans imported via EOD files)
Financial Systems
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

11. Ideal for representing relational information
Data Extract & Import
XML
XLS
Excel/CSV
Ideal for representing relational information
XML
For fuller representation of the information, including repetitive fields
Data may be exported in a number of ways, such as:
Excel/CSV – Ideal for representing relational information
XML – For fuller representation of the information, including repetitive fields
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

12. Adapters & Interfaces
Wide range of industry standards, Adapter and Interfaces support
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP
ISO ILL
SIP2
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

13. The Alma Developers Platform
Course
Management
Custom Apps
Material
Vendors
Discovery &
Delivery
Student Info
Systems
Resource Sharing
Financial Systems
Alma Developers Platform
Cloud Integration Templates
Apps &
Extensions
Alma
Developers Network
Web Services
Adapters & Interfaces
Publishing Services
Export & Import Services
Alma Extensible Architecture
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

14. Alma Cloud Integration Templates
Alma integrations are based on Integration Templates
ILL System Integration Template
ILL System A
Integration Templates are the means by which Alma fine tunes integration types to the specific systems it needs to connect to. Consider ILL systems. They all do very similar things – enable locating remote resources, ordering them and keeping track of the request lifecycle. However, there are numerous flavors to how this is done in terms of specific workflows, communications and means of integration. A general “ILL” integration type profile may be fine tuned to match the exact means by which every specific ILL system that is in use operates.
ILL System Integration Template
ILL System B
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

15. Alma Cloud Integration Templates
Alma integrations are based on Integration Templates
Remote Storage Integration Template
Remote Storage A
Another example is the remote storage systems. The all store physical items and make them accessible to requesting patrons. Still, there are variations in how the integration is done and how the remote storage operates. Different Integration Templates of type ‘Remote Storage’ can tailor a proper integration for multiple remote storage types.
Remote Storage Integration Template
Remote Storage B
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16. Alma Cloud Integration Templates
Business attributes of the Integration Template
In this Alma screen we can see different parameters that may be set for an integration profile that is in charge of integrating with a bursar system. You can set business attributes such as which fines and fees will be exported to the bursar system and after how long, as well as more technical aspects such as the exact FTP server and directory through which the integration will take place.
Technical attributes of the Integration Template

17. Extending Workflows Fulfillment Acquisitions Resource Management
The Integration Layer is based on the standard Alma business logic. There is no special integrated workflow processing in Alma, it is just about linking and extending internal Alma processes with external interfaces and applications.
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Resource Management
User Management
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18. Alma Web Services In Action
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

19. Alma Web Services In Action
Patron Services
Discovery & Delivery
Fulfillment Services
Acquisitions Services
User Management Services
Resource Management Services
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

20. Mobile Library Services
Patron Services
Lookup Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Loan
list
Request
Library
fees
Renew
Loans
Cancel
GetUserLoans();
RenewUserLoans();
User Management Lookup Web Services:
Get user loan list
Get user fines/fees list
Get user requests list
User Management and Fulfillment Update Web Services:
Renew loans
Pay fees
Notification Channels
SMS
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

21. Get calculated due date
Self Service
Patron Services
Lookup Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Self payment
Get calculated due date
Self Checkout 28
PayFees();
GetLoanAttributes();
LoanItem();
ReturnIem();
Fulfillment Lookup Web Services:
Get due date
Fulfillment Update Web Services:
Check out/in Item
Register payment
SIP2 Based Services
Check out/in item
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

22. Discovery Discovery Lookup Services Update Services Publishing
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Resolved Links to E-Resources
Publishing
RTA
Links to Delivery Component for D-Resources
Fulfillment Services for P-Resources
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 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

23. Discovery Discovery Lookup Services Update Services Publishing
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
GetHoldingsAVA()
Publishing
RTA
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 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

24. Resource Sharing Fulfillment Services Lookup Services Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Fulfillment actions
NCIP Messages:
LookupUser
CheckOuItem
CheckInItem
AcceptItem
RequestItem
GetHoldingsAVA()
ISO Messages:
Request
Shipped
Received
Etc’
Local Resource Sharing system
Repository information
Alma may integrate with a local external resource sharing system which orchestras the resource sharing process. This is illustrated in the upper integration, where Alma exposes its repository in terms of bibliographic records and inventory availability, and gets NCIP updates from the local external resource sharing system about actins that are performed, such as item is being shipped away or has been received for a local request.
Alma may integrate directly with a remote resource sharing system, acting as an independent resource sharing partner. In that case, as illustrated in the lower diagram, Alma will not only expose its inventory to requesting partners, but also query the remote partners for their bibliographic and inventory information. It will them directly communicate with the remote ILL system using whatever protocol, such as ISO ILL.
Protocols such as Z39.50 for discovery, NCIP for systems integration and ISO ILL for ILL communications, play a major role in this area of integration.
Resource Management Lookup Web Services:
Z39.50/SRU queries as client
Z39.50/SRU queries as server
Alma APIs for search and present repository information
Title information
Inventory availability information
Publishing
Fulfillment Update Web Services:
NCIP services
Repository
information
Remote Resource Sharing system
Resource Sharing communications
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

25. Course Management Systems
Fulfillment Services
Lookup Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Inventory availability
GetReadingList ( );
CreateReadingList( );
GetHoldingsAVA ( );
Reading lists
Course Management System
Course Management is another area where dedicated management tools are widely used, but integration with the resource management system is crucial for a proper end to end workflow in terms of:
Library processing of physically and digitally required resources
Library triggering of additional internal back office processes such as acquisitions
Exposing resources availability
The upper illustrations shows how a reading list may be created in the course management system and then pushed into Alma for library processing, or created in Alma and then reflected out to the course management system for the students to browse and discover. In either case, the course management system relies on Alma for exposing the availability of the resource, be it physical, electronic or digital.
As the lower side illustration shows, the course management systems themselves function as both course management systems and as discovery systems. This enables Primo, as a discovery tool, to also play a role in:
Having the faculty discover the course resources thorough Primo, and then submit the discovered citation as a reading list citation for the library to processing
Being a readily available tool for students who want to find and access resources that are related to their courses, Alma will publish the course information along with the published resources to make the resource be discoverable in Primo using course attributes such as course number and instructor.
Resource Management Lookup Web Services:
Alma APIs for search and present repository information
Title information
Inventory availability information
Fulfillment Lookup Web Services:
Alma APIs for exposing reading list information
Course
Information
Add citations to list
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

26. Remote Storage Fulfillment Services Lookup Services Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Request Information:
Requested format
Required pickup
Manual Operator
Remote Storages come in different flavors, allowing Alma to interact with them using differently profiled Integration Templates. At times, an operator at the remote storage is required to manually pick up an item an act on it, for example to ship physically to the requested pickup location or to digitize. In that case, Alma will simply be able to export the request information to the remote storage facility
Data Extract & Import:
Export requested material information
Export request information:
Requested format
Required pickup
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

27. Remote Storage Fulfillment Services Lookup Services Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Request Information:
Requested format
Required pickup
Automatic
Retrieval System
UpdateItem( )
RequestItem( )
At times, however, the remote storage may operate using an automatic machine that receives request information and pulls items based on the identified resource. Alma will be able to directly communicate with such machines using the correctly profiled Integration Profile. The remote storage machine will be automatically notified about request information as well as about changes in the status of the inventory it is supposed to handle, such as ‘item has been withdrawn’ or ‘item has been added to the remote storage’.
Fulfillment Update Web Services:
Place request
Resource Management Update Web Services:
Place item in remote storage
Remove item from remote storage
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

28. Library Gates Fulfillment Services Lookup Services Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
User Information
Status
Expiry Date
User Group
GetUserInformation()
There are places where even the library gates interact with the library’s resource management system, for identifying the person that is entering the library or areas of the library, and making sure the person is an authorized patron and is allowed into the library or into a specific part of the library, such as a restricted reading room. The library gates may actually interact with Alma to obtain the patron’s status and user group for the purpose of authorizing the patron.
User Management Lookup Web Services:
Get user information (including expiry information)
Get user block information
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29. Enterprise Systems Acquisitions Services Lookup Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
CreateOrder();
GetOrder();
CreateInvoice();
GetInvoice();
GetFunds();
Many of the back office processes in the library are not silo, and require update of and from other enterprise systems, such as Financial Systems for invoice information. The invoices are managed by the finance people using dedicated systems which require the feed from the library system to process the invoices. Likewise, the payment information needs to be pushed back into the library system to mark the invoice as completed. Both types of integrations may be managed in Alma , currently using file based integrations, and in the future also based on on-line web services.
Vendor systems are many times where the purchase order lines are required to be directly registered, and at times are where the purchase requests are first registered. Pulling and pushing purchase order information to and from these systems makes a full purchasing process be reflected in both relevant systems – the library system and the vendor system.
User Management Update Web Services:
Update user records
Update fines/fees
Acquisitions Update Web Services:
Update orders
Update invoices
Invoice Information
Fund Information
Purchase Order Information
Finance System
Vendor System
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 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

30. Student Information System
Enterprise Systems
User Management Services
Lookup Services
User Management Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
User Fines and Fees Information
User
Information
Bursar System
Student Information System
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 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

31. Authentication User Management Services Lookup Services
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
Local Users Database
LDAP Database
AuthnenticateUser();
SAML Based Authentication
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 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

32. Manage Bibliographic Records
Resource Management
Lookup Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Update Services
User Management
Resource Management
Fulfillment
Acquisitions
Publishing
Adapters & Interfaces
Z39.50/SRU
NCIP, SIP2
ISO ILL
SAML/LDAP
OAI
EDI
Data Extract & Import
Repository
Non Repository
GetRecord();
SearchRecord();
UpdateRecord();
Record Editor
Bulk Import
A cataloger may be using an editor to which he may fetch Alma records, do some work on them, and then push them back into Alma. The same process may be done in bulk, working on a bunch of records that need to be manipulated in some manner. Of course, records that have not been originally created within Alma may also be imported into Alma in both manners – as single records or as a bulk action.
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33. The Alma Developers Platform
Course
Management
Custom Apps
Material
Vendors
Discovery &
Delivery
Student Info
Systems
Resource Sharing
Financial Systems
Alma Developers Platform
Cloud Integration Templates
Apps &
Extensions
Alma
Developers Network
Web Services
Adapters & Interfaces
Publishing Services
Export & Import Services
Alma Extensible Architecture
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

34. External Search Profiles
Apps & Extensions
Metadata Processing
Label Printing
External Search Profiles
Normalization Rules – Automatically manipulating metadata records imported or created in Alma.
Merge Rules – Controlling how imported records are merged when imported to Alma
Web Services may be used for pulling item information from Alma and activating them in Label Printing applications
External sources may be used to for importing records
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

35. Normalization Rules Online For example: cataloging
Add language code in field 41
Add Medium information in field 245
Online
cataloging
Record Normalization
Bulk importing
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

36. Normalization Rules Condition Clause Action Clause
If exists a 008 field with value ‘ger’
AND
No 041 field already exists with value ‘’
Rule Name
Add 041 field , subfield ‘a’, with value ‘ger’
Rule Name
Add 245 field , subfield ‘h’, with value ‘[Journal]’, or replace existing value
If exists a LDR field with value ‘s’ OR
There is an ISSN

37. Merge Rules </> For example: Don’t overlay OCLC number
Copy over all series related fields
</>
Matched record
Merge records
Record importing
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

38. Merge Rules
Overlay with all new record fields, except for the identifiers and local fields
Do overlay the 035 field unless it has the indicators ‘9’ and ‘#’
Overlay with all new record fields, except for the identifiers, local fields and added entry fields
Add Serial Statements and Series Added Entries from new record

39. Online Label Printing Enter Item ID Launch Web Service
Launch (with returned Item Information)
Item Information
Label Printing Application
For online printing
Item Information
File
For offline printing
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

40. Define criteria for printing
Batch Label Printing
Define criteria for printing
Item Information
File
For offline printing
Label Printing
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

41. External Search Profiles
List of sorted search targets in my profile
Available search targets that can be added to my profile

42. External Search Profiles
Search term
Edited record

43. External Search Profiles
Search results, with merge options

44. Alma Developers Platform
The Alma Developers Platform
Course
Management
Custom Apps
Material
Vendors
Discovery &
Delivery
Student Info
Systems
Resource Sharing
Financial Systems
Alma Developers Platform
Cloud Integration Templates
Apps &
Extensions
Alma
Developers Network
Web Services
Adapters & Interfaces
Publishing Services
Export & Import Services
Alma Extensible Architecture
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

45. Alma Developers
 Ex Libris Ltd., Internal and Confidential

46. Thank you!