Skip to content

Alma

Your feedback matters to us. Help us improve Alma by telling us what you’d like to see using the message areas below. You can also can support something already posted.

We would love to be able to respond to every idea that is submitted, but this is not feasible. We are, however, committed to responding to the most popular ideas—those that have received the most points.

For more information please review our FAQ and guidelines. Thank you.

  • Hot ideas
  • Top ideas
  • New ideas
  • My feedback

1984 results found

  1. Make it possible to add Vendor Interface fields and customize field value options for existing fields

    In Alma, Vendor Interfaces in Vendor records are the place designed to hold e-resources administrative information, such as contact information, administrative details, and usage statistics details. However, the fields available to libraries were developed several years ago, are not customizable, and do not reflect the complexity of modern e-resources management. Different types of institutions have different needs and want to record different types of information, so adding a few new fields for all libraries isn't an ideal solution.

    Instead, this request is for libraries to have the ability to add and manage Vendor Interface fields. Libraries should be able to…

    102 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  2. Contributed collections - a Report to Contributor instead of Report to Ex Libris

    There are many collections now that are contributed by the community. Sometimes there are errors within them and as it is now, there is no way to report that and get the linking problem (for an example) fixed and the issues can be so many that a deactivation is necessary, but then the collection becomes dead and just clutter KB. My suggestion is that when a institution contributes a collection, a mandatory field is added to the workflow of contributing. This field contains an email address. That email address is then incorporated into a button so you can report to…

    84 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  3. Save certain subfields from being overwritten via F3 and PTC

    When linking names, subjects etc. from authority files in various BIB fields, some cataloguing conventions require giving additional information in certain cases.

    One example for such a requirement, stemming from the German speaking countries, is to add the time and place of an auction when linking to the genre/form term “auction catalogs” in BIB field 655 (see attached screenshot). This additional information is, of course, specific for each BIB record and must not be overwritten or deleted, if at a later point in time either PTC processes said BIB record or a colleague invokes the F3 functionality.

    Since different subfields…

    159 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  4. Add "Which coverage statement will be applied?" option to "Change Electronic portfolio information" job

    The "Change Electronic portfolio information" job includes the task "Remove local coverage" which removes local coverage from all the portfolios in a set so the only coverage remaining is global coverage. I run this in cases where the global coverage was once poor, so we loaded local coverage, but now the global coverage has been fixed and is good, so now we want to remove our local coverage and use the good global coverage. However, "Remove local coverage" does not also change the "Which coverage statement will be applied?" radio button from "Only local" to "Only global."

    It is important…

    44 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  5. Search for ISBN with hyphens

    Previously, it was possible to search for ISBNs with hyphens (e.g., 978-82-693905-0-6) using the "All titles – keywords" search in Alma. However, this functionality no longer works with the release of the new title search.

    While the search still works if you manually switch from "keywords" to "ISBN," it would be much more convenient if ISBNs with hyphens were recognized in the keyword search as well. As it stands, users are forced to repeatedly switch search types, resulting in unnecessary clicks and a less efficient workflow.

    76 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  6. Allow for an authority file to be addressed by different codes in $2 of various BIB fields

    In Alma the authority file, a subject or term stems from, is defined by the content of $2 in various 6XX fields. This code controls the F3 functionality, as well as the linking process and the various jobs like PTC. Each and every authority file is addressed by one specific code.

    In the German speaking countries we use an integrated authority file (GND), which amongst names and subjects, also includes genre/form terms. For historical reasons the genre/form terms in BIB field 655 are marked with the official LoC /MARC Genre/Form Code and Term Source Codes “gnd-content” and “gnd-carrier” in $2,…

    122 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  7. Securing Alma access by two factor authentication (2FA) in combination with time-based one-time passwords (TOTP)

    2FA and TOTP are common and standard methods for securing access to IT systems. These concepts should be implemented in order to secure access to Alma also. A respective implementation should replace the multi-factor authentication currently implemented in Alma since it lacks security for at least the following reasons:
    - Sending a link by email is insecure since email hardly can be viewed as a secure transport medium.
    - Using email for transferring a second factor hardly allows to keep the second factor as being independent from the device on which Alma access takes place.
    - The link which is…

    154 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  8. Improve Alma Analytics to allow for more straightforward and accurate COUNTER usage data and Cost Per Use reporting.

    Improve Alma Analytics to allow for more straightforward and accurate COUNTER usage data and Cost Per Use reporting. To address the following:

    1. Simplify CPU Calculation: Improve the system to allow straightforward calculation of Cost Per Use (CPU) by including financial data in the usage subject area, eliminating the need for SQL joins.

    2. Increase Data Update Frequency: Increase the frequency of usage data updates in the e-inventory subject area and fix the date of the job, as the current monthly updates, which have variable dates, cause scheduling issues.

    3. Enhance Data Accuracy: Address inaccuracies and missing data due to limited match points…

    124 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    5 comments  ·  Analytics  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  9. Allow a NR to run with the PTC job

    TL;DR:
    We would like to have the ability to run a normalization rule whenever the PTC modifies a record.

    Background:
    In November 2024 Ex-Libris added a new functionality to the PTC job:
    MARC 21 Preferred Term Correction Can Flip Headings with Cross-Reference in Different Field
    https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2024/Alma_2024_Release_Notes?mon=202411

    Problem:
    The PTC job only changes the first indicator correctly when the PTC job changes a field into 630.
    in all other cases, the existing indicators remain.
    We opened a case and spoke directly with Ex-Libris, but were told that the PTC job runs as intended, and that not handling the indicators is not…

    42 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  10. Add General Electronic Services information to Analytics

    In General Electronic Services, we have four different services for article requests, four different services for book requests, and five different services for book chapter requests, all developed over the years to address provider idiosyncrasies. Each group of services provides the same link to the user, e.g. the article request links all display "Get this PDF".

    Our Interlibrary Services unit has the product delivery statistics, but I would really find it helpful to know how many clicks each of our General Electronic Services gets. It would help with service and link maintenance and I expect with troubleshooting, since it would…

    36 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    1 comment  ·  Analytics  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  11. Add and improve audit logging and system event tracking for changes to Alma configuration

    Many institutions have needs and requirements to be able to track when Alma configurations change, and who changed them.

    This is especially true because many Alma "administrator" roles combine complex librarian tasks with systems configuration abilities. For example, Catalog Administrator or General Systems Administrator is required to create new metadata import profiles - a task that catalogers need to do regularly. But, both roles also grant additional abilities to configure Alma behavior for resource management,
    integrations and the like.

    Use cases include:

    • Monitoring changes as part of standard internal audit review. For example, an institution may identify that even though…

    138 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    6 comments  ·  Analytics  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  12. separate work orders from patron requests

    On the results from a physical titles search, each title shows the number of requests pending for that title. This number includes both patron physical item requests and internal work orders. In order to see what requests fall into which category, you have to click on the Requests link and wait for the information to load in the slider pane (this can take some time if the number of requests is large). Then you can filter by request/process type.
    It would be useful for these two categories of requests to be separated from each other. For example, we circulate laptops…

    52 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  13. Overdue Fine in different periods

    After changing the "Overdue Fine" parameter, the entire fee is recalculated with the new value.
    According to the law, the fee should be counted up to the change with the old value and after the change with the new value.
    E.g. until 2024-12-31 parameter=0.2, then parameter=0.4
    This is especially important in public libraries.

    115 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  14. Block when overdue: add a "days per overdue days" unit of measurement option

    Hello everyone,
    when defining user loan blocks, there are several options available to be used as "units of measurement" in order to calculate the loan block period: we are in doubt about which option fits best for us, as we want to set up this option in the most convenient way for our patrons.
    There are lots of options, both "discrete" and "cumulative" (we have chosen "cumulative), but in our opinion, we think that the most appropriate ones are "days per overdue days" and "open days per open overdue days", although they both have their pros and cons: the first…

    57 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  15. Manage Deleted Repository--ability to select and restore a group of records

    Manage Deleted Repository is a helpful feature helps us restore records that were mistakenly deleted. However, it only allows us to restore records one at a time by clicking a "Restore" button next to each record. This is not workable when a large number of records need to be restored. We need functionality that will allow us to select and restore groups of records.

    The Restoring Records Removed or Changed by Jobs functionality (https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_(English)/050Administration/070Managing_Jobs/020Manual_Jobs_on_Defined_Sets#Restoring_Records_Removed_or_Changed_by_Jobs) does not sufficiently address this need, as it can only restore repository content deleted by a job, not records deleted manually. Also, even in…

    49 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  16. Alma collections: Allow to add multiple titles from network zone

    We very much appreciate that the idea Alma collections: Allow to add from network zone (https://ideas.exlibrisgroup.com/forums/308173-alma/suggestions/44841430-alma-collections-allow-to-add-from-network-zone), which allows to add NZ records to IZ collections, could be developed. However, we think the usefulness of this feature would be greatly improved if it was possible to add more than one record at a time, for example via sets.

    41 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  17. Allow for Almost Arbitrary Conditions in General Electronic Services

    Currently for a general electronic service we can only create conditions based on metadata already contained in the given BIB record. Please provide a way to let the link resolver check any condition which is computable within a reasonable short amount of time!

    Example Use Case:
    Our library network offers a web service taking any given ISBN, ISSN or Union Catalog ID and returning 'true' if there is a BIB record for the corresponding resource in the union catalog and at least one of the network's libraries has an item of this resource available for ILL. Otherwise the web service…

    54 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  18. Simplify item scanning when processing is complete

    Operators would benefit from not having to choose a Work Order Type and Status when the treatment is complete. It is not always easy to find out which cataloguing or repair operation has been carried out on an item. And above all, it's not useful if Done =“No” is selected.

    Couldn't you put this last line at the beginning of the form, and open the Work Order Type and Status boxes only if "Yes" has been ticked, rather than the other way round?

    Thank you and thank you for supporting this modest proposal.

    Nicolas

    84 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  19. Better information design for pop-ups in the New Circ UI

    When managing return items in Alma: information in the pop-up on subsequent steps in the process is difficult to read due to a small typeface. Also, not all information is relevant or, strictly speaking, correct (e.g. "item is not on loan" even when there is an active request).

    We would like to see a larger font in general, or, if this is not feasible, at least the requester's name in bold typeface. This would add a much needed visual cue for staff processing returns.

    The bullet point about the item not being on loan could be supressed as it offers…

    53 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  20. Feature Requests for the NZ Fulfillment Network

    1. Access to Borrowing History Across NZ Institutions
      • Feature Request:
      Enable librarians to view the borrowing history of their university patrons at other NZ institutions.
      • Current Situation:
      a. On Network Activity tab, it only displays current FN loans and current FN requests.
      b. Librarians cannot directly access the borrowing history or detailed transfer records when their patron borrows books from another NZ institution.
      c. Assistance from librarians at the other institution is required, which delays service and limits the ability to provide comprehensive patron support.

    2. Show more information on Network Activity tab
      • Feature Request:
      On Network Activity tab,…

    128 votes
    Vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
← Previous 1 3 4 5 99 100
  • Don't see your idea?

Feedback and Knowledge Base