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Is it Really that Simple? Using Super Shelf Inventory Cloud App and Alma Inventory

Carolyn Caffrey

ccaffrey@cypresscollege.edu

Cypress College

eCAUG 2026

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About

  • Cypress College is in North Orange County Community College District
  • Weeding for ADA compliance
  • Serve ~12k FTE students
  • The library has not done a comprehensive inventory in at least 10 years
  • I’m an Alma newbie!

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Comparing options

  • Need admin access to allow APIs
  • Easy to use!
  • Does not provide missing items
  • Flags issues related to location, status, item type, and item policy
  • Provides shelving order and misshelved items
  • Can run LC and Dewey
  • Downloadable spreadsheets

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SUPER SHELF INVENTORY API

  • Built-in through Shelf Report
  • Kinda clunky
  • Provides missing items
  • Flags issues related to location and status
  • Can run LC, Dewey, and other call number schemes
  • No spreadsheets

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ALMA INVENTORY

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Pre-inventory workflow

  • Librarians complete weeding project with a deadline 
  • No new items added to the collection at this time
  • Tech Services staff then have time to withdraw weeded items prior to any barcode scanning beginning
  • Barcodes to be scanned by Circulation Staff during summer closure hours

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Post-inventory results and workflow

  • Each location was run in Alma and Super Shelf Inventory as distinct spreadsheets
  • Missing items were added to a set and then ran a job to "Change Physical Item Information" to status missing
  • Radically misshelved items were retrieved by a librarian and then reshelved or had their call numbers corrected on the spine label
  • The few items with no barcodes in Alma were retrieved and updated
  • Librarians received a spreadsheet for replacement consideration

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Challenges

  • Our paperback collection doesn't use LC or Dewey so we couldn't easily use Super Shelf Inventory. However, we were able to run the report to easily track down the location of a few items with barcodes not in Alma.
  • Barcode scanners get fatigued and sometimes miss a digit while scanning. We get fatigued while scanning!
  • Difficult to conduct an inventory while the library is open without disturbing patrons
  • Managing both Shelf Report and Super Shelf Inventory results

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So... is it really that simple?

YES

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Resources

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Thanks to the Cypress College Library Circulation and Tech Services Staff, Ivan Luque, Cindy Lopez, James Carrocino, Alycia Wildman, and Elizabeth Guitierrez Rojo for their input in the process and all of the barcode scanning 🫶