Alma
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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.
1699 results found
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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.
62 votes -
Add faceting to the results of the Receiving Workbench
Sometimes serials do not have identifiers, but have very common words as their title, such as Historian, People, or Taxation. The ability to use facets to narrow results lists, beyond just the library would make this much easier to use.
21 votes -
Have multiple pickup locations available in Primo when requesting items from the same library
Our wish is to be able to offer several pickup locations in Primo for the same library when documents are available for loan (not linked to a reading room desk) without having to create a new virtual library. The library must be able to configure the visibility of these pickup locations based on certain user criteria (e.g., user group).
For example, a library may offer a special room whose access is reserved for teachers and doctoral students. The library would like doctoral students/teachers to be able to choose this room as their pickup location at the time of the request…
22 votes -
Add "Send Query to Patron" option to Digitization requests menu
Currently there is not option to ask the patron about a current Digitization request. These requests are often submitted with little or vague information and a way to contact the patron for clarification is needed. The "Send Query to Patron" option for this purpose is included under "the ellipses" for Resource Sharing requests. Why does it not appear for Digitization?
55 votes -
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…71 votes -
Acquisitions: Add the possibility to contact the vendor when manually closing a POL
We need a way to discontinue a standing order before completion and to inform the vendor about it via email directly from Alma.
"Cancel" does have the possibility to inform the vendor about the cancellation. However, by cancelling a POL, Alma is designed to completely undo the order by detaching already received items from the order and cancelling active requests on these items (this caused us huge trouble in the past, so we can’t use it).
"Close" is currently lacking the possibility to contact the vendor via email directly from Alma.
So we suggest that an option to contact the…38 votes -
Data visualisation: Open for saving canvas templates.
Data visualisation: Open for saving canvas templates.
As described in https://docs.oracle.com/en/cloud/paas/analytics-cloud/tutorial-custom-themes/index.htmlThis makes it easier to standardise look and feel of institution reports.
17 votes -
Additional Local Parameter fields in Local Authorities dimension
There can be up to 100 local fields 9xx in the "Local Authorities" and none of them can be retrieved in Analytics. Could it be possible to have, at least, the same number of "Local Params" as in the he "Physical Items" or the "Titles" table?
https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_(English)/080Analytics/Alma_Analytics_Subject_Areas/Physical_Items#Local_ParamThanks.
141 votes -
Automatically Trim Leading and Trailing Spaces in Patron Names
When staff create or edit patron records, Alma currently accepts leading or trailing spaces in the first name and last name fields. These spaces make the name technically unique, so the duplicate warning mechanism does not recognize the record as a duplicate. This results in poor data quality, as duplicate records are created without warning.
Proposed enhancement:
• Automatically remove any leading or trailing spaces in the first name and last name fields when a patron record is created or updated.
• Alternatively, prevent staff from entering leading or trailing spaces in these fields from the beginning.This enhancement would…
24 votes -
Add block information box on patron’s account landing page
Currently, when accessing a patron’s account through the “Manage Patron Services” tab, the patron’s account landing page does not show the block information (a pop-up does show up but with incomplete information, as recorded in a SF case). In order to access block information, one has to click on the patron’s name, and then navigate to the block tab.
The suggested idea would be that a box containing block information be added in the left-hand column of the patron’s account information, under the box containing loans, returns, requests and fines and fees information. Block types could be described with the…32 votes -
Allow prioritization of item requests based on library proximity and capacity
In our consortium, several libraries are linked through relationships. However, these libraries differ in distance, staffing levels, and delivery times.
We would like Alma to provide a way to prioritize the fulfillment of requests based on configurable criteria such as library proximity, staff availability, or delivery speed (as actual transit time rules are not efficient enough).
This enhancement would enable the system to route requests for multiple available items to the most suitable library — ideally the closest or best staffed — thereby streamlining daily operations and improving service efficiency across the consortium.17 votes -
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…
62 votes -
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…57 votes -
Allow Adjustments to Fines and Fees
Summary:
Currently, when staff members need to adjust a fine or fee (for example, to correct the replacement cost of a lost item), the process requires deleting the existing fee and creating a new one. This creates a significant issue: the newly created fee is not correctly linked to the associated item record.Problem Description:
When a patron reports a lost or overdue item and is unable to locate it, staff adjust the charge to reflect the actual replacement cost. However, because the system does not support direct modification of existing fees, staff must delete the original fee and manually…14 votes -
Add "linking information" in Community zone databases when they are not activated yet
Hello,
When I look in the Community Zone at an electronic Portfolio that has not been activated by us yet, I can click on "Linking Information" and test the link and control if it goes where we want it to go.Unfortunately, this is not possible yet, when we want to look at a zero title database. There, we actually can only test the link after we have activated it.
Therefore, I suggest adding the field "Linking information" on database level, too, for databases that are not activated yet; analogous to the field that exists on portfolio level.
Best,
Igor…36 votes -
Integration of Patron Age in Loan Rules
We propose that the patron's date of birth be taken into account in the loan rules of Alma's Fulfillment Units, alongside User group. This would allow the restriction of loan for certain documents to minors (under 14, under 16, etc.), ensuring compliance with access restrictions for sensitive content.
This feature would enhance loan management and ensure better compliance with library policies.111 votes -
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…
139 votes -
Invoice Line Price and Additional charges data made available in Analytics
There is a need in our Acquisition department, and in the Collection Strategies department, to better understand what we spend on tax and freight for individual funds. In past fiscal years we used separate funds dedicated to the freight and tax funds. In this new fiscal year and going forward all funds, as has been practiced with endowment funds, will have freight and tax encumbered and invoiced within the fund itself. This is to align with the campus's new financial system. In order to track freight and service charges per fund in any fiscal year going forward we need to…
13 votes -
Visibility of Patron Blocks in Alma
Not all patron blocks are visible under the "Blocks" tab in Alma, depending on the type of block and how it is generated. For example, the maximum cash limit block does not appear in the tab but can be seen as a pop-up notification when using the Manage Patron Services screen.
It would be extremely helpful if all blocks were displayed in the "Blocks" - tab, making it easier for staff to get a complete overview of a patron’s status and blocks.
17 votes -
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…
58 votes
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