Managing print collections is often a balancing act between limited shelf space and the commitment to preserve scholarly records. For many Alma users, Remote Storage is the solution, but the process of deciding which items to move has historically been exhausting, involving endless spreadsheets and manual data merging.
With the latest Rialto Collection Development Workflows released this November, those data-heavy days are over. We have designed a system that makes optimizing your collection faster, more economical, and, most importantly, data-driven.
The Core Pillars: Collaboration, Transparency, and Customization
Before diving into the use cases, it is important to understand the three principles behind these new workflows:
- Built-in Collaboration: Work across institutions directly within your ILS. No external tools required.
- Total Transparency: See exactly why the system made a recommendation with clear data points and rationales.
- High Customization: The tool adapts to your internal rules, not the other way around.
Use Case: Mastering Remote Storage Workflows
Deciding which monographs to send to a shared or remote facility is a high-stakes task. Whether you are fulfilling a national shared-print commitment or simply clearing space, the Retention and Deselection workflows are game-changers.
How it Works
Instead of manually building lists in Analytics, you simply define your criteria in an easy-to-use form. The system analyzes your holdings based on several factors:
- Usage data: How often is it actually being checked out?
- Availability: Do we have an electronic version? Do our partners have a copy?
- Location: Is there already a copy in the recognized Remote Storage entity or held by another institution you collaborate with?
Beyond Just “Yes” or “No”
The beauty of these workflows is in their flexibility.
- Deselection does not have to mean withdraw. It can simply mean relocating items to closed stacks or secondary storage. Retention does not have to b a static status.
Once the system provides its recommendations, you can take action then and there. You can create sets, run bulk jobs, or move items to a temporary library in one click. Want to add a review phase? Use the new item-level labels to flag specific books for staff review or physical processing.
From Days to Minutes
The old way involved days of merging data, emailing Excel files, and manual verification. With Rialto, this becomes a matter of minutes. You get a detailed rationale for every single item, allowing you to trust the automation while maintaining full control.
Stop managing your print collection the hard way. Take advantage of Rialto Collection Development Workflows and transform your remote storage process into a streamlined, automated success.
