Linked Data

Linked data in Alma/Primo

Clarivate’s Ex Libris is gradually implementing Linked Data (LD) capabilities within the Alma library services platform and the Primo discovery system. In Alma, BIBFRAME support has been introduced to manage LD records. Primo supports LD by improving search functionality through features like autocomplete for person entities and Info Cards, which present contextual information drawn from established external vocabularies.

In 2024, a CSU team was established to explore and evaluate BIBFRAME features in Alma, focusing on aspects such as data import, export, and editing. Continuing the group's work, it was reorganized into an integrated metadata and discovery team in 2025 and has created an ongoing spreadsheet  to document and evaluate all LOD-related features. This team aims to:

  • Support all-CSU knowledge building and decision making about LD features released into the Clarivate ecosystem
  • Communicate what CSU-based research and testing should be considered, and has been completed, specifically on our Alma/Primo implementation as opposed to relying just on the IGeLU/ELUNA LOD Working Group's  findings
  • Identify systems, ontology, workflow, training and/or other issues in need of solving and/or communicating to CSU stakeholders
  • Enable individual campuses to implement LD-related cataloging workflows and/or Discovery applications without re-doing all the research and learning steps other CSU campuses have already completed 

This team will maintain this work sustainably by leveraging the IGeLU-ELUNA LOD Working Group Dashboard , reviewing it biannually to assess new features. Assessment questions help determine whether a release requires CSU-specific attention, and which task force or testing group should lead the response. Updates will be shared via the ULMS Guide, SharePoint, or Community of Practice platforms when appropriate.