Currently, Alma's authority-control jobs do not process updates to MARC21 authority tag 035 (System Control Number) when the update occurs via an authority import profile as the update of an existing record, i.e. there is a match between the existing authority record in Alma and the incoming authority record via the authority import profile. In contrast, the update is processed when there is no match with an existing record, i.e. the record is new to Alma, or, when the authority record has been updated manually via the MDE.

This was clarified by Ex Libris in a support ticket (case 07255325). According to that explanation, the workflow for updating automatically bibliographic records based on updated authority records (in case of ID-based authority linking and local authority records) - https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_(English)/Metadata_Management/060Working_with_Authority_Records#Updating_the_Authority_Record_ID_Automatically_in_Bibliographic_Records - only applies when the imported record is new to Alma, but not when an update to an existing authority record is concerned.

This is a severe limitation of the current design in Alma that prevents the automatic handling of authority record merges, which involve, in the authority record, the addition of 035 $z (canceled system control number) and in the bib record the replacement of $0 in authority-controlled fields and the update of those authority-controlled fields based on the updated $0.

One possible workaround is to manually modify tag 035 in the authority record after the imported authority record update, e.g. by adding "035 $a0", so that authority-control jobs will process the tag anew. An alternative workaround is to delete the existing authority record in Alma before the import, allowing the updated record to be treated as new and processed by Alma's authority-control jobs. However, both workarounds require manual intervention, which undermines the idea of library automation.

We request that Alma processes updates to tag 035 even when the incoming authority record is an update rather than a new record. This enhancement reduces the need for manual intervention and improves the efficiency of authority control in Alma.