Alma
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153 results found
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New type of block : booking
Currently the Block Preferences in Alma have Block options to permit Blocks on :
· Block types 01 et 02= Loan and renewals
· Block type 03= Loan and renewals and request
· Block type 04 = Resource sharing
· Block type 05 = Request
It would be good to include a type of block for Booking only. It would allow us to block Booking without blocking other services for a patron.
Right now libraries can’t choose to sanction a booking abuse without blocking every other service. It is too strong a sanction for some users.
Best regards,
Nathalie Darbon
43 votes -
Option to define which library will serve a patron digitization request with priority
We allow patrons to place digitization requests on print journal articles. For this we use a central digitization department that serves several libraries of the institution. Since the request can be placed on the journal title it often occurs that several libraries could fulfill the request. At the moment the system picks the serving library randomly. Since our central digitization department is located at our central library, it would be extremely helpful, if we could define that items of the central library fulfill the requests with priority. This way we could eliminate unnecessary transfers of items between libraries and speed…
41 votes -
Option to Return Items Without Filling Patron Requests
Items checked in that have patron requests on them are automatically placed on hold shelf and the patron is immediately emailed. Currently Ex Libris allows a delay for the notice for a maximum of 999 minutes, which is often not long enough. Sometimes materials come back that need repair, updates, or to be quarantined. This can take varying amounts of time. It would be ideal if the system would allow us to have the option to check materials in without triggering the hold process, so we may complete any necessary steps we need to before an email is triggered to…
39 votes -
A separate booking calendar
Now, it is not possible to establish a separate calendar for booking request, the library's opening and closing times are used.
We would like the booking request to have a separate calendar from the Library's general hours.37 votes -
Send borrowers an email when they place a request
It would be good if, when someone places a request on Primo, they could be sent an email receipt to confirm what they have requested. (This is an idea for both Alma and Primo, as I assume the email would be sent from Alma).
Not only would it be useful for users to have confirmation (a lot of webforms will send users a copy of their completed form, so people half-expect one from Primo/Alma), but it would allow libraries to include important messaging.
eg. at the moment, January 2021, we're in lockdown again, so the email could ask people to…
36 votes -
Option to add user details to Pick from Shelf & in export list
For institutions that manage requests differently depending on User Group or other values in the user record, it would be useful to have this info displayed with the rest of the request data in a pick from shelf list. Alternatively it would be useful to have this data in the export list so that staff managing these requests have this additional data to hand.
34 votes -
Block the patron (several days) if they do not pick up a physical item that was requested and that they have reserved on the hold-shelf
Create a new TOU request type Policy type to sanction the not pick up of the item from the hold-shelf
31 votes -
Prevent the reservation of items from other libraries if material exists on the user's campus
By default, Alma allows the user to request material from any of the libraries registered in the system.
For us this is not always desirable, because in certain cases the library where he can request the material is located hundreds of kilometers from where he is, and the transport of this material becomes difficult and time-consuming.
This is especially problematic when the material exists in the library/campus where that user is registered. The requested item would take longer to arrive from somewhere else than if he waited it to be returned to his campus.
To solve this, we would like…
31 votes -
Store information about request history
It is currently not possible to see whether an item has previously been requested, only that it's checked out. I want (often) to be able to tell: how many times throughout the history of this item has it been requested and in what way (page from shelf, recall, something else). It's super weird to me that this isn't present in the fulfillment history at least, and probably in analytics.
30 votes -
Requesting Multiple Volumes or Multiple Copies of One Title
Alma will not allow a patron to request a second volume of a title on the same record unless the item has a description. However, as one of our catalogers explained: "Since they are part of an analyzed set, the volume number goes on the holding record, not the item record, and therefore, there needs to be two holding records."
This is problematic for requesting analyzed sets from our off-site storage facility, which is where we get the most complaints from our patrons.
We put in a Salesforce case (#00485416) about this, but they closed it because they insist we…
28 votes -
Allow transferring a recall to the next eligible item without placing a new request
In the event a patron with a recalled item has extenuating circumstances that prevent the item's timely return, it would be helpful to pass the recall process to the next eligible item in the holding, e.g. the next oldest loan. Currently, we are only able to extend the due date of the current loan, and advise the requesting patron to cancel then re-request the item - this would cause issues if there is a queue of requests for the item, and we would like to be able to "bump" the chain of requests down if possible.
28 votes -
Bulk Work Order Functions
A function that allows you to scan multiple item barcodes to create a specific type of work order on all items you scan.
This would also allow you to remove work orders in bulk.
This is a function we very much need; on Monday I had to create 140 work orders for one of our Resource Sharing services, and this took nearly an hour and a half to do. This is not feasible for us in the long term, and we very much need a rapid function for this process.
This function would, of course, need to inform the user…
28 votes -
ILL cancel/reject workflow - "Lender Reject Email Letter"
ILL workflow scenario of a library with several sublibraries.
- Step 1: The (central) Resource Sharing Department creates a fulfillment request to receive a book from a sublibrary (to be sent via interlibrary loan).
- Step 2: The sublibrary can not or will not send the book and therefore the sublibrary cancels the request. This also triggers a "Lender Reject Email Letter" to ILL partner.However, the fulfillment request cancellation form only provides these fields:
- Cancellation reason
- Cancellation noteBut a "Lender Reject Email Letter" needs the following fields:
- Reject reason
- Note to partnerThe "Cancellation…
26 votes -
Batch Update Expiry Date for Items in Department (Work Orders)
It would be really helpful if we had the ability to change expiry dates for items in process (in department, with a work order) in a batch. This screen already includes the ability to change status, mark done, and generate barcodes in batch. Adding an option to update the expiry date that way seems like a logical addition.
24 votes -
Allow patron to choose whether to recall or just place a hold
It would be great to offer the patron the choice of whether they want to be "put on the list" for an item when they place a hold, or they want to recall that item because they need it quickly.
21 votes -
User information in Print slip report
We are currently using the print slip report for our click and collect service but for us it is missing some vital user information around the requester. We would like to see the primary identifier in the report. We tried to deal with this in analytics but we also require the item barcode and this caused problems where there are multiple items under a title. The print slip report contains all the information (including the multiple barcodes) we need except for more extensive user information to help staff deal with this off site. The name is not enough, particularly where…
21 votes -
Prioritize requests by location or fulfillment unit
When a user submits a request at the title level in Primo VE there should be a way to prioritize certain items in a holding by location or fulfilment unit. For example, if a book has copies available in a circulating location, but there are also copies available in a non-circulating collection that is managed by a Reading Room desk, the circulating item should always get priority.
20 votes -
Confirmation Notice for Curbside Bookings
Alma has allowed for the Booking Request feature to be set-up and modified as a means to provide curbisde service or make appointments. However, it appears that no letter exists to confirm the appointment day/time with the user, which would be most helpful in providing user instructions, cancellation information, contact numbers, etc. I propose that this letter be added to enhance communication and expectations especially during this challenging time of changing services and delivery options. Thank you!
20 votes -
Need item-based request priority
We need to be able to configure a request TOU which allows to define an item-based request priority, based on item policy. When there are two identical items available for requesting, I want to indicate to Alma which one to prefer.
We have a library responsible for legal deposit. Of all documents of legal deposit, we have two items, one which can be requested for the reading room, the other which can be requested for loan. When a patron places a request on the holding, Alma decides randomly which one of the items to provide.
We would like to configure…19 votes -
Ubicación temporal no prestable. Gestión de reservas
Al escanear un libro con reserva, ubicado en una localización temporal, Alma automáticamente activa la reserva y envía un correo electrónico al usuario, indicando que el libro está disponible en el estante de reservas activa.
A pesar de que la política de préstamo configurada para dicha ubicación temporal no permite realizar el préstamo.Solicitamos que cuando por política de préstamo, no sea posible realizar el préstamo de un libro reservado, no se active la reserva y no envíe correo electrónico al usuario.
18 votes
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