Alma and Primo Issues: Home

Prepared by Tiffany Schoettker, May 2024

Over time, some bibliographic records are merged together at OCLC.  Therefore, there will be a retained (active) OCLC # and a non-retained (old) OCLC #.

-->The non-retained OCLC # is stored in the 019 field of the retained record. 

For instance, a search for #1388664683 will bring up a result that lists #1157230393 in the blue OCLC field (upper left under the search bar). 

--> Look at the 019 field.  You will see the OCLC #1388664683 for which you originally searched.  

This can create issues when searching in Alma and Primo.

Searching and viewing results in Alma:  If you search by the non-retained OCLC#, your search results will show only the retained OCLC # in the "Record number" field.   

• It's only if you open and view the record will you be able to see the non-retained OCLC #.  

Searching and viewing results in Primo:  If you search by the non-retained OCLC # 388664683, the system will not bring up any results.  You'll receive a message, "No records found".  

• However, if you search by the retained OCLC # 1156398635, you will receive the correct search result.  

UPDATE 5/14:  Per Cataloging, this might be a Primo setting issue.  We will continue to monitor how quickly this problem occurs with merged OCLC records, and escalate the issue to LTS as needed.