Alma Digital for CARLI I-Share Libraries

Revised: March 7, 2025

Background

Alma Digital is not included as part of CARLI's contract with Ex Libris for Alma for I-Share. A separate subscription for Alma Digital or Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending is required if an I-Share library wishes to create Digital Representations (files) and store them in Alma.  For more information, see Ex Libris' What are the licensing requirements for managing digital resources in Alma?

However, Ex Libris and CARLI have negotiated pricing for CARLI I-Share libraries to optionally add the following subscriptions to Alma:

1. Alma Digital, the complete service, also called Alma-D
   or
2. Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending service, also called Alma Digital CDL, or Alma Digital Fulfillment Workflows (DFW)

I-Share Dean/Directors and Liaisons were sent pricing via email on Sept. 6, 2023 or may contact CARLI Support to request fee information.

Ex Libris presented an informational webinar for I-Share libraries on Sept. 22, 2023 (58 mins.)

Ex Libris presented an informational webinar for I-Share libraries on the Digital Fulfillment Workflow within Alma Digital on November 1, 2023 (45 mins.)

What is the difference between these two subscription options?

The Alma Digital service is a complete solution for management and discovery of digital collections within Alma and Primo VE.  It includes controlled digital lending functionality.

The Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending service is a scaled down option with lower pricing for libraries wishing to manage digital objects in Alma and Primo VE for controlled digital lending only.

For more information on Alma Digital, see the Ex Libris website: Alma for Digital Resources.

Alma Digital

One-time Fee and Annual Fees*

Subscriptions follow a July-June fiscal year. The first year of billing will include two charges:

• A one-time implementation fee
• An annual subscription fee*

After the first year, only the annual subscription fee* is charged.

I-Share Deans/Directors and Liaisons were sent pricing via email on Sept. 6, 2023 or may contact CARLI Support to request fee information.

*An annual increase may be applied to the Annual Fees after June 30, 2024.

The Initial Subscription Term for each participant is three years. Subsequent renewals will be one year at a time unless the I-Share library provides 60 calendar days’ notice of intent to cancel.

Restrictions

For Alma Digital, usage of the Alma Digital Storage is limited to up to the number of Digital Metadata Records subscribed to, and 3 TB of Digital Object Files in the Alma cloud storage.

What is included in Alma Digital implementation?

1. Training and consulting by Ex Libris staff
   
   1. Verifying objectives and requirements
   2. Training on new workflows (recorded)
   3. Training administrators on configuration of digital functionality (recorded)
   4. Consultancy via live web-based sessions
2. Ex Libris staff assist with setting up and testing up to two data ingest workflows based on Alma standard tools and required formats supplied by the customer, as sample data
   
   1. Defining a top-level collection
   2. Setting up to two basic access rights definitions
   3. Enabling Alma default viewer
   4. Enabling standard discovery configurations for digital records
3. Expected outcomes:
   
   1. One digital collection is loaded to Alma. Data is verified in Alma and Discovery
   2. Ingests workflows are set up and verified by the institution
4. The Service duration is limited to 4 weeks and is delivered remotely. If the institution would like to extend the Service timeline beyond 4 weeks, negotiation regarding the extended schedule and related costs will be conducted. Post-project support for up to 4 weeks after Go Live is provided until switch to support.

Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending / Alma Digital Fulfillment Workflows

One-time Fee and Annual Fees*

Subscriptions follow a July-June fiscal year. The first year of billing will include two charges:

• A one-time implementation fee
• An annual subscription fee*

After the first year, only the annual subscription fee* is charged.

I-Share Deans/Directors and Liaisons were sent pricing via email on Sept. 6, 2023 or may contact CARLI Support to request fee information.

*An annual increase may be applied to the Annual Fees after June 30, 2024.

The Initial Subscription Term for each participant is three years.  Subsequent renewals will be one year at a time.

Restrictions

For Alma Digital Controlled Digital Lending, usage of the Alma Digital Storage is limited to up to 5,000 Digital Metadata Records, and 3 TB of Digital Object Files in the Alma cloud storage.

What is included in the implementation of Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending?

1. Ex Libris shall assist with setup and testing a CDL (Controlled Digital Lending) flow based on Alma standard tools and required formats.
2. Ex Libris shall perform the following configuration in Alma:
   
   1. Defining a top-level collection
   2. Setting up a CDL access right policy for objects loaded in Alma digital repository
   3. Enabling the Alma default viewer
   4. Enabling standard discovery configurations for digital records
3. The institution shall provide sample data, based on Ex Libris requirements (in DC or MARC format only), to assist with the standard setup described above, and is responsible for loading data to Alma.

How does my library subscribe to Alma Digital or Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending?

I-Share libraries should contact CARLI Support to indicate their intention to subscribe to either Alma Digital or Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending.

Since I-Share libraries must commit to a three-year initial term, at this time, subscriptions can only be offered with a start date of July 1, 2025 because CARLI’s current contract for Alma expires on June 30, 2028.  CARLI intends to include Alma Digital and Alma Digital CDL in our negotiations for a new contract with Ex Libris after June 30, 2028.

I-Share libraries should select Alma Digital or Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending subscriptions from the CARLI Cosortia Manager system to begin on July 1, 2025 in the "Software as a Service" (SaaS) FY26 CARLI selection cycle in March 2025. Please note: CARLI cannot accept new subscriptions after July 1, 2025 until a new contract is negotiated with Ex Libris.

Can my library test Alma Digital or Alma Digital for Controlled Digital Lending functionality before committing to a subscription?

Yes! CARLI I-Share Premium Sandboxes can be used to test both Alma Digital and Alma Digital for CDL functionality. Each sandbox has a total limit of 50GB for digital objects.

Please note that any digital content uploaded to a Sandbox for testing cannot be transferred to your production Alma IZ if Alma Digital or Alma Digital for CDL is purchased by your library.

If you have any questions, for pricing, or to subscribe, please contact CARLI Support.