Alma
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26 results found
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Collection Development tool needs to allow location-based comparisons as well
The Collection Development Tool unfortunately does not yet allow comparisons within a single Alma library.
While subsets (e.g., holdings from one location) can be passed via list, set, or special definition in a project, no other complementary location belonging to the same Alma library can be used on the comparison side. Only comparisons with complete inventory from one or more other libraries within the same IZ are allowed.
Location-based comparison should generally be permitted within the same library as a project definition option, set or file as well as for comparison quantities. On comparison side it would be useful, to…
24 votesThank you for this idea and for the clear explanation for why it is necessary.
This development is planned to be released shortly.
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Collection management tool: adding usage data to reports
This tool would have significantly more value if there was a column for usage data in the exported reports.
Currently the only indication of usage is in the “Badges” column, e.g. “High Usage, Single Item” or “Single Item, Low/No Usage”, but we often need more granular data than this in order to make decisions.
When creating a project, the user can limit the usage of titles (though not items) to more or less than a given number, within a specified timescale; could the actual number of uses be included in the report?11 votesThank you for this valuable suggestion.
I’m happy to share that this enhancement is already planned for release in August. As part of this update, we’re improving the extended export reports to provide more detailed usage data.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Total Usage: A new column showing the overall usage count for each title.
- Usage in Project Scope: A column reflecting usage within the specific time range and criteria defined for the project, if it was defined.
We believe these enhancements will provide the level of granularity needed to support more informed decision-making.
All the best,
Shoshana
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Add "Quantity for pricing" field to PO lines API.
Today when using PO lines API, electronic PO lines are always set with "Quantity for pricing" = 1. Even when a different value is sent for PO line creation, it is being automatically updated to 1.
In some cases institutions need to pay for more than 1 copy for electronic purchases. They are not interested in creating 5 portfolios for example, but to be able to pay for 5 instead. For that, the "Quantity for pricing" field should be fully supported via API.
0 votesDear Community,
This is to inform you that we plan to add the option to update Quantity for pricing and Update net price according to items quantity fields in PO lines API for create, update, and retrieve flows.
This will be available as part of November 2026 Release.
Best,
Zohar Shemesh
Alma Product Team
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Library Open Workflows Template Sort Option
I would like to be able to sort the list shared LibOW Workflow Templates by date uploaded (newest-oldest, oldest-newest). This will allow me to be able to quickly scan the list of templates for new additions.
2 votes -
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…
221 votes -
Ability to aggregate claims to one vendor should be made available for Legal deposit
For the acquisition method “Purchase” the letter “PO line claim letter” is used, for the acquisition method “Legal deposit” and “Legal deposit - without letter” the “Legal deposit claim letter” is used. For the “Purchase” acquisition method an additional claim letter is available “PO Line Aggregated Claim Letter”, which in the event of there being more than one claim to the same vendor aggregates these into one letter. The same is not available for legal deposit. This means that when we have one large vendor (ex: supplier delivering on behalf of many different publishers), which is common for legal deposit,…
32 votesDear Community,
This is to inform you that we plan to add the legal deposit workflow to the claim aggregated claim letter. It will be part of claim_aggregated_letter parameter, and will have a dedicated letter - 'Legal Deposit Aggregated Claim Letter'.
This will be available as part of November 2026 Release.
Best,
Zohar Shemesh
Alma Product Team
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Job or tool for extraction of related bibliographic records
We would like the ability to get a hold of or extract the related bibliographic records in bulk based on a set of (other) bib-records.
Alma already now automatically displays related records in "other details". We understand that the links are built based on bibliographic data in the MARC linking fields: 773, 774, 777, 786, 800, 810, 811, and 830 (subfield w,x,z).
An example of a related record is a title within a monographic series. In this case, the bib record for the single monograph has a 830 $w with the MMS-ID/system number of the superordinate bib record.
We would…
144 votesI would like to share an update on how this request is addressed using the recently introduced Alma custom bibliographic search indexes. This new infrastructure enables bulk identification and management of related bibliographic records by combining custom local search indexes with existing set based workflows.
Institutions can configure custom search indexes based on MARC linking fields, including 773 and 774. These indexes support subfield delimiters, allowing precise searching for identifiers stored in $w or $x, such as MMS IDs, system numbers, or other control numbers used to express relationships between records.
Using these custom indexes, staff can search across the bibliographic repository to identify related records and build logical sets based on the retrieved results. For example, identifiers from an initial set can be searched directly in the 773 or 774 custom indexes to retrieve bibliographic records that represent Part Of or Contains relationships.
The resulting records can then be…
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Have searchable Notes fields in vendor records
It would be great if the data in the Notes tab of vendors records could be searchable - possibly as an Advanced Vendor search, or as part of a keyword search, or even within Analytics. Some data from Voyager's 'alternative vendor name' field has been migrated into the notes and it would be useful to be able to search on this.
57 votesDear Community,
I'd like to inform that the addition of index fields to both basic and advanced vendor search will be done for February Release 2027.
Best,
Zohar Shemesh
Alma Product Team
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Fine for failing to pick up request
We would like to have a fine automatically applied when a patron fails to pick up a request. The fine should be applied after the last pick-up date has passed if the request has not been picked up or cancelled. It should be possible to determine for which locations/user groups the fine will be applied.
209 votes -
Allow Fulfillment Network Member (AFN) to lend resources, but not serve as a physical pick-up location for other network members' patrons
Since some institutions have buildings with perpetual restricted access, we have some AFN fulfillment network member libraries that are willing to send their materials to another AFN member library for pick-up, but, for all functional purposes, they are closed to the public. They don't want patrons from the other AFN institutions to visit their library in person, and thus, don't want patrons from another AFN institution to select their library as a pick-up location.
This need has been heightened during the pandemic, with more institutions closed to the public.
We know that turning off all circ desk hold shelves will…
100 votesIt will be possible to set the library with a ‘pickup for guest users’ indication that can be turned off. This will prevent the library from showing up as pickup location on AFN/FN request forms
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New role for Manage Import Profiles
Currently users must have a Cat Admin role or Gen Sys Admin role to be able to Manage Import Profiles (change/add profiles). This also gives them access to the Configuration area of Alma. There should be a role to permit users to Manage Import Profiles that does NOT also give them access to the Alma configuration area. Access to the Alma configuration menu should be separate from the ability to Manage Import Profiles.
173 votesHello all,
I’m currently working on a detailed solution for this request and would appreciate your input. Could you share the reasoning behind the need for a completely new user role to manage import profiles?
An alternative approach could be to introduce specific privileges for managing import profiles and add them to the existing Purchasing Manager and Catalog Manager roles, with these privileges turned off by default. This way, institutions can decide whether to enable them for these roles.
The advantage of this approach is that it leverages existing manager roles without requiring the creation of an additional new role, while still avoiding granting full administrative access to configuration settings.
Looking forward to your feedback.
Erez
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Ability for fulfillment staff to renew patron loans from other institutions under network activity in Alma
Our consortium would like circulation desk staff to have the ability within Alma to renew items on loan from other institutions from under a user's network activity tab (renew all and renew selected, though renew all being more helpful if both are not possible).
Currently, only the user has access to a renewal option via their Primo VE My Library Card.
76 votesFrom November 2026 release notes -
Renew Loan from Network Activities Tab (Source Institution)
Previously, renewing a loan in the Patron Services workbench was only possible when working at a desk of the institution that owned the item. Now, staff at the source institution can renew loans directly from the Network Activities tab of the Manage Patron Services page. This improves cross-institution circulation workflows by enabling efficient loan renewals from the source institution, reducing operational friction for staff and enhancing patron service.
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Dark Mode/Theme
Like the title suggest, A dark mode/theme for Alma.
Having the white background can be very sore on the eyes, and many prefer the reverse ( black background / white font ).32 votesAs part of our roadmap, we are planning to add a high contrast color scheme each user can switch to when needed.
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More easily edit/delete POL templates
We would like to be able to more easily update our POL templates. As far as I can tell, you need to create a new order, make adjustments in the POL, and then Save As Template - overwriting the old template. There should be an easier process.
208 votesDear all,
This is to update you that we will add a new management page for the PO lines templates in H2 of 2026.
Both public and private templates will be shown in this list and could be edited, duplicated and deleted. We will also add the option to set templates as "Inactive", which will allow users to manage them as drafts while working on them, as they will not be seen in the "load from template' list while being inactive.
Please find the attached screenshots showing our design.
Thank you and best regards,
Zohar.
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Create "Quick Cataloging" placement default as "Institution" rather than "Network"
When creating an item at checkout, or a brief record, Alma opens up a Quick Cataloging window that defaults the "Placement of new record" into the network. Since these records most often end up with the Cataloger under review, I feel that Alma should default to the Institution Zone instead. This will ensure that we do not unintentionally add these records to the Network zone.
25 votes -
Role Profiles Enhancement
When using role profiles, it would be nice if the profile could create a link to the user(s) with roles defined by the profile. Then, if you want to modify the profile, the change updates all users in the profile. Currently, you'd have to update the role profile and each individual user.
141 votesIt will be possible to maintain ongoing link between the role profile and the user record, so that you can use the template to assign a predefined set of roles to a user, and any further changes to templates will automatically affect the linked users' allowed roles.
Note - multiple profiles may be assigned to a user.
It will be possible to view the list of profiles an account is liked to for inheriting its roles, and to remove/add more profiles.
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Linking patron name to patron record
I have noticed there are several ideas suggested in the ideas exchange regarding linking a patron's name and/or ID to their record in Alma.
These include:
- 'Link patron loan to patron record' (posted 25/05/2016)
- 'Hyperlinking from request queue/holdshelf to patron record' (posted 21/09/2017)
- Ability to view patron data via patron ID link in resource sharing' (posted 11/01/2018)I have one more to add to the list - linking within 'Manage item returns'.
When an item is returned, the patron returning the item is displayed in the 'Patron' column, with a hyperlink to their record, and the option…197 votesThe solution approach will be to add a link from the user contact info pop up to the user record. This link will be available for users that have a role that allows viewing a full user record.
By having this link added to the user information pop up we will have added to the many places where user information is displayed.
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How to distinguish namesakes
When you search a user (fullfiment > manage patron services), there is no possibility to distinguish to different user, who have the same nam (namesakes).
In the old UI, there was a patron card image, and, when clicking on, we accessed to a summary of the patron.
Now, we have no more solution.
Can you add this functionnality in the new UI?
Thanks a lot.
206 votesHi,
Makes sense ! Currently, the user information that is displayed in the user Ajax search results (e.g. patrons services WB) is hardcoded.
A mapping table, similar to the one that configures the user pop up, will control the fields that show in this list. The mapping table will enable the same fields that the user pop up allows, and allow setting the order of the fields.
Thanks,
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Open predicted issues in bulk / by help of a job
only option in alma is opening the predicted items per title. We would like more functionality in the receiving workbench. We can see that predicted issues can be opened for the coming year when in the receive screen, so have to do it title by title!
85 votesHi all,
Work is in progress on the bulk opening of predicted items. This will be available in the November 2026 release, enabling a quicker opening of the 2027 cycle of predicted items.
Best,
Alma Product
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Add "Search within results" box on a set
Hello,
It would be very useful if we had a search box of "Search within results", on a set we created with indication rules.
Thanks.
388 votes
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