Allow All MARC21 Fields Valid for Subfield $5 to be Saved as Alma "Local Extensions"
The Problem:
Alma’s current "Local Extension" model restricts local data to a hardcoded subset of tags (09X, 59X, 69X, etc.). This forces libraries to choose between keeping standard local data in the Network Zone (where it risks being overwritten) or moving it to non-standard local tags.
When standard data (like a 700 donor name or a 655 local genre heading) is forced into a 9XX or 69X field, it breaks standard Primo indexing. We lose the ability to have this critical local data indexed in standard Primo indexes.
The Solution:
Update the Alma Metadata Editor and bibliographic validation rules to allow any valid MARC21 field that supports Subfield $5 (per LC/OCLC standards) to be saved as a "Local Extension."
This includes, but is not limited to, critical local metadata fields such as:
- Provenance/Donors: 541, 561, 700, 710
- Local Subject/Genre Terms: 653, 655
(Per OCLC standards, the full range of valid fields includes: 026, 037, 246, 361, 500-501, 506, 526, 533, 538, 540-541, 561-563, 580, 583-585, 588, 653, 655, 700, 710, 711, 720, 730, 740, 758, 773-774, 787-788, 790-793, 796-799, 800, 810, 811, 830, 880, 885, 896-899).
Why This Matters to the Community:
Implementing this change will bring Alma into alignment with standard MARC21 practices for institution-specific data. It eliminates the indexing gap in Primo, reduces metadata duplication, protects local data integrity in consortia (NZ), and removes the need for complex normalization and merge rules.
Matthew Bright
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