Add Alma support for microlanguages and language codes recognised by Library of Congress, including Austlang
Alma’s support for Language for search indexing, facet, and display is hardcoded for 041 to the 3 digit MARC Code List for Languages.
This excludes languages recognised by Library of Congress, such as Austlang languages which were recognised more than 6 years ago in 2018.
This issue has been addressed in Primo in 2021 and 2022 with customer advocacy efforts, but remains a glaring omission within Alma.
See details: https://igelu.org/primo-support-for-austlang-and-iso-639-3/
The only option currently within Alma for searching this data is to use the keyword field to search by information such as C15, and then use the Language filter to limit to Australian languages (by MARC code aus).
Even then, the Austlang language is not shown in the displayed metadata.
Attempting to use the simple search Language field to query 041 metadata in Alma records when not on the MARC Code List is unexpectedly zero results.
And for the advanced search Language field, Alma offers only a hardcoded dropdown menu of languages on the MARC Code List.
Successful delivery of this idea would be:
• Alma’s simple search by the Language field also returns results for all languages entered in the 041
• Alma’s advanced search by the Language field also allows for text to be entered, and also returns results for all languages entered in the 041
• Alma’s search results also displays in the Language field all languages entered in the 041
• Alma’s Language facet also includes all languages entered in the 041 from results returned
This is fundamental to reconciliation efforts to correctly recognise and represent First Nations peoples languages in the work of libraries worldwide, as well as hindering practical efforts by library staff to address past practices and report effectively on successful progress towards this in library systems.
Note: This submission is related but not fully covered by https://ideas.exlibrisgroup.com/forums/308173-alma/suggestions/46338445-add-iso-639-3-microlanguage-names-to-alma-title-se
Stacey van Groll
shared this idea
Hello all,
I want to clarify the decision made regarding this request, as it should help make things clearer.
First, we added the option to upload Controlled Vocabularies using a CSV or Excel file, making the process much easier than before.
In addition, we enhanced the 041 $a OTB Controlled Vocabulary list to include ISO 639-3 languages, in addition to the existing MARC21 standard list. This extended list supports search, facets, and other functionality — offering more capabilities than most other lists in Alma. Any additional language codes (e.g., Austlang) can be added to this list by each institution according to its specific needs.
Please note that due to a performance issue, the full functionality will be available in the February 2026 release. For more information on how to use it, please refer to the release notes and online help.
Erez
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Nina Goldie
commented
Thanks Stacey and others for requesting further follow up on this request. I would like to see further work on enabling Alma search within the 041 field. I think that any language code and vocabulary entered in the 041 should be searchable in Alma. I would still like to see (1) free text search of 041 field subfield $$a and (2) search by vocabulary code from subfield $$2. I agree that "not all customers want to use the same language list" but I think enabling search that is not tied to a MARC code dropdown would actually support people using a wide range of language codes and vocabularies.
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Leigh Billings
commented
Hi Erez,
The problem with this response is that it does not fully address our needs.
For example, I can download the current table attached to the 041 $a and add the language codes for IS0-639-3, which requires me (my institution) to review 95 language codes which overlap with the MARC language codes and decide which is the preferred language name.
But this doesn't help me as I have a bib record with the following in my system: It uses a perfectly valid "World Atlas of Language Structures Online" thesaurus to supplement the existing MARC language codes:
041 1 $$a chm $$a rus
041 17 $$a mah $$a mme $$a rus $$ 2 walsoBut the problem is that the valid code for Mari (Hill) ("mah") conflicts with the existing MARC 21 language code for "Marshallese" (also "mah")
Currently, in Alma, the facets say that this is a Marshallese language item, when it is not. I can't think of any way I could modify the existing 041 table to account for this difference (I don't want to pick one over the other: they're both valid!)
In this case, updating the current table doesn't help at all. What would be helpful is if additional 041 tables could be added IF we can link them also to the appropriate language code source noted in the $2.
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paul wei commented
Hi Liza, the Nov release controlled vocab bulk upload feature is not the same as what is requested in this case, please reopen.
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Jonah Highman
commented
I agree with Stacey. Though bulk uploading CVs is a welcome enhancement, it's a related alternative to this idea that leaves institutions to try and cobble together a solution themselves. It's not the core idea outlined here, nor includes the first half of what Eres Shabo said was planned in their June post below, i.e. enhancing MARC 041. I believe this idea should be reopened and an update provided on the other aspects of the idea not addressed in this release.
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Stacey van Groll
commented
I'm not seeing how the November 2025 Release option to load CV in bulk fulfills any part of this submission.
If that could be explained, it would be appreciated, such as if I've missed some documentation about CV controlling simple search, advanced search, facets, or results display.
Otherwise if not I believe this should be reopened. -
Hello all,
The plan for this year is to enhance the controlled vocabulary used in field 041 $a by expanding it to include a broader list of language codes, combining the current MARC21 standard with codes from ISO 639-3. Additionally, we aim to improve controlled vocabulary management by adding the ability to upload code lists from a file. This will enable customers who wish to use other coding standards to load their codes into any controlled vocabulary list used in any field or subfield. -
Diana Brooking commented
I am not sure that this idea is fully clear about which codes/standards should be supported in the 041 field. I would like to see support for iso639-3 in the 041 field, in addition to MARC. Because this is the standard that is starting to be used by the PCC. This would not only benefit First Nations languages, but many languages throughout the world that aren't represented well in MARC. For instance, Norwegian (bokmål vs. nynorsk)!
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Nina Goldie
commented
Thank you for posting this idea. This would be extremely useful for our library.
I would love to be able to search the 041 field by keyword/text, including with truncation. So for example, to be able to search for Y* if I am looking for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language materials relating to the Cape York and North Queensland region. (AustLang language codes consist of a letter for the region, followed by a number for the specific language.) For this to work properly I would like to be able to specify a vocabulary from 041 subfield $$2 (in this case austlang) within the search.
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Patricia Farnan
commented
I'm currently out of votes but definitely support this!