Ex Libris™, part of Clarivate™, is thrilled to announce the first quarterly release of the year for the Alma library management service. Several enhancements are available to all Alma customers, setting the stage for an exciting year packed with new features designed to provide customers significant value. Key service updates include the AI Metadata Assistant, new user interfaces, and support for COUNTER R5.1 reports.
Leading the February feature release is the phase 1 availability of the AI Metadata Assistant for the Alma Metadata Editor. This tool makes cataloging easier and more efficient, by providing helpful metadata suggestions and reducing the time catalogers spend researching and searching for information. Catalogers can upload images, PDFs, and select templates for new records, while admins can set local normalization processes and merge rules. Version tracking is also included.
Work on providing a more efficient user-friendly experience in Alma continues throughout 2025, with the new user interfaces for Title Search and Manage Patron Services becoming the default through this release. The new interfaces streamline workflows, enhance usability, and improve staff efficiency, leading to better service and user satisfaction.
Another key element in the release, which is timely for year-end reporting, is that Alma now supports loading COUNTER R5.1 reports both manually and via SUSHI harvesting. This enhances the accuracy and reliability of usage data that libraries regularly collect across various resources, to make informed decisions and justify expenditures.
“These enhancements reflect Ex Libris’ dedication to collaborating closely with our customers to continually improve Alma and address the evolving needs of libraries worldwide,” said Dana Moshkovits, Senior Director of Product Management, at Ex Libris. “We are excited to deliver even more value throughout the year. Beyond this release, we will continue to focus on AI and streamline resource management through both interface and functional enhancements.”
Complete details about the February release can be found through Alma release notes posted in the Customer Knowledge Center. The entire 2025 Alma release schedule is also publicly accessible, with the next feature release to go into production on May 4, 2025.
