Skip to Main Content

Alma Resource Management Guide

This guide explains all aspects of the cataloging process, including loading, editing, and deleting bibliographic records, holdings records, and item records in Alma.

Local Extension Fields

 

Page Contents:
About
Adding New Local Notes
Editing Existing Local Notes
Deleting Local Notes 
Searching Local Notes
About 9xx Fields

About Local Notes

Local extension fields can be added to Network Zone records in Alma using the MD Editor. 

If the NZ record is overlaid, Local extensions fields are retained in the IZ version of the linked NZ record.  

According to the MARC21 standard, select 5xx fields may contain either general or local information. In Alma however, only certain MARC tags can be converted to Local Extension Fields. Fields that can be used as local extensions in Alma fall within the following ranges of MARC tags:

77X/78X, 09X, 59X, 69X, and 9XX fields

The house icon next to the MARC field identifies it as a local field:

  • "Add Local Extension" adds an invisible $$9local to the field to indicate that it is a local field
  • $$9local displays as a "house" icon next to the Local MARC field in the MD Editor

General MARC tags for content that applies to a work, expression, or manifestation where the note would be included in an OCLC Master Record or Alma Network Zone bib record for the title.

Local Tags for content specific to the local library’s item, that would only be included in the Alma Institution Zone record for the title. 

Mapping Select 5xx to 59x 

Below is a mapping of select general 5xx fields to 59x fields that are eligible for conversion to Local Extension Fields. 

General Tag 

Local Tag 

DESCRIPTION 

501 

591 

Bound with note 

506 

593 

Licensing note 

510 

594 

Citation note 

521 

595 

Target audience note 

540 

596 

Performance rights note 

541 

597 

Acquisitions note 

561 

598 

Local ownership note 

Aleph to Alma Local Fields Crosswalk

Alma local Fields with Aleph Mapping 59X and 9XX

 

Adding Local Notes to a Bib Record

All local notes specific to an institution must be added in the MD Editor using approved local fields.

To add local notes (extensions):

  1. Open the bib record in the MD Editor
  2. Click Editing Actions>Add Local Extension 
  3. Type in the local MARC field and a house Icon will appear next to the local field
  4. Type in the local note  
  5. Click on the Save icon (Ctrl+S) or Save>Save and Release Record (Ctrl+Alt+R)

 

The TSSC Training subcommittee also has a training document on Adding Local fields on their training documents page.

 

Editing Local Notes in a Bib Record

To edit a local MARC field in the MD Editor:

  1. Open the bib record in the MD Editor
  2. Click into the local field and make the necessary changes
  3. Click Save>Save and Release Record (Ctrl+Alt+R)

 

Deleting Local Notes in a Bib Record

To delete local notes (extensions) in the MD Editor:

  1. Open the bib record in the MD Editor
  2. Click into the local field to be deleted
  3. Click Editing Actions>Remove Field (Ctrl+F6)
  4. Click Save>Save and Release Record (Ctrl+Alt+R)

 

 

Searching Local Notes

To search for local notes using a repository search:

  1. Perform a repository All Titles/Physical Titles:Local Notes: [search term, such as Licensing note]

 

 

About 9XX Fields

9xx fields are OCLC-defined and therefore not included in MARC 21 Format for Bibliographic Data by the Library of Congress.

9xx fields are not part of the standard MARC 21 format. OCLC has defined these 9xx fields for use by the Library of Congress and for internal OCLC use: 936, 938, 956, 987, 989, and 994. Fields 901-907, 910, and 945-949 have been defined by OCLC for your local use and will pass OCLC validation. The remaining 9xx fields may also be locally defined by your library, but may not pass OCLC validation.

OCLC-Defined 9xx Fields