This FAQ explains how the Alma Publishing Profile works with Third Iron’s BrowZine integration, how often data is updated, and configuration nuances — including multicampus considerations.
Note: This FAQ applies specifically to the OAI-PMH Publishing Profile method. If you are using the TXT export method instead, please refer to the Alma TXT Export FAQ.
1. How often are our holdings updated once we activate the publishing profile?
For libraries using Alma’s OAI Publishing Profile, holdings are exported incrementally.
Alma’s publishing framework exports records that have changed since the previous run. For more detail, see Ex Libris documentation on Publishing and Inventory Enrichment (General Publishing)
BrowZine harvests Alma data once weekly, typically on Sunday.
Recommendation
To ensure the most current data is harvested:
Schedule the BrowZine Publishing Profile in Alma to run every Saturday.
Manual Updates
If you make significant collection changes and need an update before the weekly harvest:
Manually Run the publishing profile in Alma.
Email support@thirdiron.com to request a manual harvest.
2. Does BrowZine require Electronic Titles or Electronic Portfolios?
For the OAI Publishing Profile method, Electronic Titles are required.
The BrowZine publishing profile and associated normalization rule are designed to operate at the title level. Alma’s OAI publishing framework consolidates all portfolios associated with a title into a single OAI-PMH record when Electronic Titles are used.
This ensures that all portfolios associated with a title are included in each published OAI record.
3. Why are the recommended parameters for defining the content set “Electronic Titles” and not “Electronic Portfolios”? The latter returns more records.
Explanation
In Alma:
A Title represents the bibliographic journal.
A Portfolio represents a specific electronic access point (e.g., a package or provider).
One title may have multiple portfolios (e.g., Wiley, EBSCO, Project MUSE).
When using Alma’s OAI publishing mechanism:
Alma exports only records that have changed since the previous run.
If a set is defined as Electronic Portfolios, Alma publishes one OAI record per portfolio.
If only one portfolio for a title is updated, Alma may export only that portfolio record.
Because BrowZine processes records incrementally, it could interpret that single portfolio record as the only source for the title — potentially causing incomplete coverage representation.
By defining the set as Electronic Titles, Alma consolidates all portfolios into a single OAI record for that title. Even if only one portfolio changed, the full portfolio set is included in the exported record.
For more information on Alma publishing behavior, see Publishing Profiles Overview
This requirement applies specifically to the OAI Publishing Profile method.
4. How do I create the set if it does not yet exist?
Alma does not allow the creation of a new set from within the Publishing Profile configuration screen.
To create a new set:
Navigate to
Admin > Manage Jobs and Sets > Manage SetsCreate a Logical Set with the appropriate filters (e.g., Material Type = Journal).
Save the set and then select it within the BrowZine Publishing Profile configuration.
For detailed instructions, see Ex Libris documentation on Managing Search Queries and Sets
5. What do I use for the “Earliest Timestamp” field when creating the OAI Integration Profile?
The Earliest Datestamp field is required by Alma when configuring the OAI Integration Profile, but it does not affect BrowZine’s publishing or harvesting process.
Any valid date may be used without impacting BrowZine. If you're unsure, then we recommend you use:
01/01/1900
For additional details, see Ex Libris documentation on Setting Up OAI Integration Profiles
6. Multicampus Alma Guidance (OAI Method)
Some institutions operate in a multicampus Alma configuration, where multiple campuses share a single Institution Zone (IZ) and use campus codes, local coverage, or Alma Groups to manage access.
When using the OAI Publishing Profile method in a multicampus environment:
The set must be defined as Electronic Titles.
Title-level publishing consolidates all portfolios for each journal into one OAI record.
Libraries that rely on group-based availability or complex campus scoping should validate their published output to ensure campus separation behaves as expected.
If campus-level isolation cannot be reliably achieved through OAI publishing due to scoping constraints, the TXT export method may be more appropriate.
Note: Alma functionality is controlled by Ex Libris. For detailed Alma configuration questions beyond BrowZine publishing requirements, please consult official Ex Libris documentation or Ex Libris Support.