StaffGuide: Metadata

Alma Authority Statistcs

 

These changes became effective on July 1, 2024. Following these procedures will allow Alma to automatically count local authority record activity. No further action is required by the cataloger. Make certain you double-check your work if you want credit for it!

Field 955

Going forward, we will use this field to generate all authority statistics. It will consist of three components:

$$a - Initials of cataloger

  • Enter the three initials of the person who created or edited the authority record. In cases where one cataloger has extensively reviewed the work of another, enter the initials of the cataloger in the first $$a, and then include a second $$a with the reviewer's initials immediately following.

$$b - Cataloging date

  • Enter the calendar year and month the authority record was first created or edited locally.

$$c - Type of cataloging

  • Enter a single letter code for the type of cataloging.
    • c = customized LCNAF record
    • o = original record
    • r = revised (substantive edits to the record, not minor corrections such as typos)

Guidelines for 955

  • A local authority record should have only one 955 field with $$c code c or o.
  • In the case of revising, enter a separate 955 field with $$c code r each time an authority is revised. A record may have multiple 955 fields within the same year.

Examples

955  $$a dek $$b 202407 $$c o

955  $$a kdc $$a jdr $$b 202502 $$c c

955  $$a rmc $$b 202411 $$c r

Methods for Entering Authority 955 Fields

The simplest way to enter a 955 is to copy one from an existing record or saved document, paste it into the Alma MD editor, and update it as needed. For accuracy reasons, keying the 955 is not recommended.

You can use a personalized norm rule to insert a 955. The following are the instructions.

  1. In the Alma MD Editor, navigate to the "Rules" tab on the left and select the "Normalization" sub-tab.
  2. Then under the "Shared" folder, find "***DEK Authority 955 initial date type."
  3. Right click, choose "Duplicate," and give your norm rule a name and description.
  4. For "Access Level" choose "Private," then click "Save."
  5. Under the "Private" folder, find your new rule.
  6. Right click, choose "Edit," and then change the following parts of the rule:
  • addField "956.{-,-}.a.initials"
  • addSubField "956.b.yyyymm". Replace what is in bold with the current year and month. You will need to edit this when either change.
  • addSubField "956.c.c o r". Leave the rule as is and edit the authority record value each time, or change the rule to a default value that applies most of the time.
  1. Save your rule. It is now ready to apply.
  2. While creating or editing an authority record, (Records tab selected, authority record on the screen), activate Editor Split Mode.
  3. Then select the "Rules" tab and highlight your personalized rule. It will display.
  4. Click "Preview," and then "Apply Changes."
  5. Finally, edit the 955 as needed in your updated record and save it.

All the AFU authority templates now contain a 955 field if you are starting from scratch. You can also use a template to insert just a 955 field in an authority record. The following are the instructions.

  1. With an authority record open in the MD Editor, choose "Editing Actions" and "Expand from Template."
  2. Find template "AFU Authority 955 only"  in the list.
  3. For "Applying Method" choose "Add All," and then click OK."
  4. Finally, edit the 955 as needed in your updated record and save it.