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.
1996 results found
-
Import Profiles - Match Profile add 028 - Publisher or Distributor Number to one of the match methods
When loading records via import profiles it would be great to be able to match on the 028 - Publisher or Distributor Number. Could this be added to one of the match methods currently available or added as a new match method>
39 votes -
Maintain patron information with missing items
When a patron places a request for an in place item, but the item is not located, we toggle the missing status for the item. This disconnects it from the patron record. It needs to remain attached so when the item is located it can still be held for the patron.
39 votes -
Ability to change item's Material Type while in process
We would like the ability to change an item's Material Type while the item is in process. Currently, Alma does not allow this unless the item is in place. If the item is in process, we get the error message, "The item is not in place and there are requests registered for this item. Please handle the requests before moving or updating this item." Incorrect material type is part of the reason the item was sent to processing, so it seems strange the change cannot be made while the item is there.
17 votes -
Ability to use import profiles on OCLC Connexion exported records
Currently import profiles can applied to Marc files that are uploaded into Alma. One can use the import profile to specify match methods, tell Alma how to deal with matches of existing and incoming records (overlay, merge, or use NZ record), and also specify inventory info to map the Marc 949 field to holdings and item records. Although the OCLC Connexion integration profile deals with importing records it lacks the features described in the previous sentence. Please see screenshot of settings in Oclc integration profile versus in an import profile.
Basically we would like the ability to specify an import…
58 votes -
Add series titles to Alma letters
Some items are more easily identified by there series titles than by the title of the actual volume. But the series title is not exported in the xml of the letters.
(Series title is in the 8xx $$t fields of the bib record).
This would help to send more meaningful letters to our patrons.36 votes -
Add 775 field in the search index.
Currently this field is not indexed in the search index. Would you please add it so that it can be searched?
22 votes -
Re-loan should not cause automatic renewal of items already on loan
When loaning an item to a patron, who has this item already on loan, the system automatically renews the loan (if possible). An option in configuration is needed to suppress this automatic renewal for the following reason: too many errors occur, when the item is automatically renewed. If the patron intends to return the item and the circulation desk operator by accident scans the item for loan, then the item is back in the library stacks but by accident renewed for the patron (who will get claimed!).
30 votes -
Add all patron-delivered letters to Selected Patron Letters opt-in/opt-out choices
It would be very useful to list all letters that are delivered to patrons in the Selected Patron Letters options. Letters like Loan Receipt and Borrowed By are conspicuously absent, but we have many patrons who don't want to receive an email every time they check something out. Others patrons do, so we don't want to globally disable these letters.
The fact that Selected Patron Letters includes letters that require patron action (Overdue Notice, Recall letter) but not letters that are more informational (Loan Receipt, Borrowed By) seems backwards. Regardless, all patron-delivered letters should be available for opting in/out.
61 votes -
Under Electronic Service Editor to have the ability to remove portfolios in bulk.
In the electronic service editor you have the ability to deleted all the selected portfolios. I would like the ability to simply remove the portfolios in bulk from the collection.
61 votes
Dana Moshkovits
responded
Clarification was provided regarding the functionality requested – which is not to delete portfolios but rather detaching portfolios from the collection and setting them as standalone portfolios.
Re-opening the idea. -
Prompt message if you have not saved a record before releasing
Currently if you edit a record and then go to release it before you have saved, you do not get any kind of prompt asking if you want to release it without saving.
There is also no prompt message if you try to save a record that has blocks to let you know that the action was not done.
98 votes -
Renewing resource sharing requests
When changing the date in the borrowing side, we then have to manually change again in manage patron services. It would be great if we could just amend the date once and this information is carried across.
35 votes -
Drop-down options for loan notes
Loan notes are currently free-text, which makes it difficult to extract meaningful data from the notes. The option to configure a drop-down menu for loan notes would improve standardization and analytics.
21 votes -
When paying specific fees by selecting fees from the list of fees, the sum of the selected fees should be calculated and displayed immediate
When paying specific fees by selecting fees from the list of fees, the sum of the selected fees should be calculated and displayed immediately before leaving the list when entering the select button. As of now the sum is displayed only after leaving the list via the select button, which is too late for a correction of the selection.
48 votes -
Proxy/Principal User Search
(I'm not sure the best term, so I'm using "principal" to refer to the person a proxy is acting on behalf of)
It's possible to view a list of principal patrons that a patron is a proxy for from within the proxy's user record (the "Proxy For" tab).
It's not possible to view or search for patrons that are proxies to a principal patron.
Examples:
1) Alice and Bob are known proxies for Chad.
I can open the Proxy For tab for Alice and Bob, where Chad will be listed for both.2) Chad has several proxies, but it's uncertain…
82 votes -
Additional inventory functionality for Alma App
At Northwestern we need to do regular checks of library carrels to make sure that books are checked out to each carrel. Since moving to Alma our process for doing these checks has become more labor intensive as we must perform several steps to check (1) if the item is on loan and (2) who it is on loan to.
It would be helpful of there were an option to scan in an item and immediately view current process type and if on loan, the patron name. Unlike Scan in Items, this action would not result in an action on…
20 votes -
Narrow Withdraw Items job functionality to Physical Items sets
Restrict the Withdraw Items to functioning with Physical Items (barcode) sets. (Currently it will run with sets of Physical Titles and effectively perform as if the job DELETE BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORDS were run with the “Delete all associated inventory resources” parameter selected.)
Include OCLC number in the Excel Export for Physical Items (currently only Physical Titles sets export with the OCLC number, but those sets function erroneously in the Withdraw Items job)
35 votes -
Display both charges payable and total charges owed.
At present the main page of a user's account displays the total amount of charges payable, but does not show a total for charges that are still accruing - e.g. fines on books that are currently overdue.
This would be useful information to see, and could be displayed so:
Total Owed (Amount Payable): £10.00 (£5.00)
OR
Charges Payable: £ 5.00
Charges Pending: £ 5.00
Total: £10.00Or similar.
37 votes -
Display local price in addition to the foreign currency price
We need the display of the local price in addition to the foreign currency price on the Invoice Lines tab and in the POL summary tab. That's very important for us.
60 votes -
Option to set return time to 15 minutes before closing
We issue equipment such as laptops to students. These must be returned before the library closes.
In the current TOUs it is only possible to set the due time to closing time. However, we really need to check all equipment is back, and therefore would like to set the due time to 15 mins (or 30mins) before closing.We would also do this for short loans, as these require being returned before the library shuts. Otherwise the student will receive fines.
Changing the closing time of the library would be too confusing for everyone
51 votes -
Producing the shipping forms by supplier
Each time a request has been marked "Ship" or "Return", the request details will be collected on a "Shipping Form" (by supplier).
When ready to ship a package -with returned/requested books- to another library, "print form" will:
1. Produce a full detailed form to include with the box
2. Will start a new form for future package.80 votes
- Don't see your idea?