Alma
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1733 results found
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Temporary Inactive for Lending - Longer than 30 Days
In the past, we were able to choose a date range for Temporary Inactive for Lending (and/or Borrowing) that covered the full time that our additional location libraries closed for summer. Now it appears to only be extendable for 30 days. That means we have to "refresh" the date range several times during the summer. Across our consortium, we have many libraries that close for the summer. If there needs to be a limit on how long we can extend that date range, could we have 90 days instead of 30? Then we might only have to refresh the date range once, which would be better than 3-4 times.
In the past, we were able to choose a date range for Temporary Inactive for Lending (and/or Borrowing) that covered the full time that our additional location libraries closed for summer. Now it appears to only be extendable for 30 days. That means we have to "refresh" the date range several times during the summer. Across our consortium, we have many libraries that close for the summer. If there needs to be a limit on how long we can extend that date range, could we have 90 days instead of 30? Then we might only have to refresh the date…
1 vote -
Add CloudLibrary to CZ and Automated Holdings
Please consider adding a CloudLibrary ebook collection in the Community Zone and if possible offer Automated Holdings service.
2 votes -
Ability to change location of message notifications
This type of notification/message pops out and frequently obstructs a toolbar I use. I find the messages helpful, but I'd like to be able to move them somewhere else on the screen.
4 votes -
Add item process type when creating a new item record
Currently when creating a new physical item record, you cannot populate the process type field. You must create the record, then go back in and edit the record to add the process type. DUPLICATING an item record does allow the process type to be updated, but creating a new item does not. The extra clicks to go back into an item record to edit it really adds up for Catalogers having to do this repeatedly throughout the day.
Here is a screen recording showing the issue when creating a new item record:
https://app.screencast.com/zw7GhHEnH5Won92 votes -
Add the ability to enter a string of delimited values in bulk to Alma Advanced Search fields
Currently adding fields and values to Alma Advanced Search is only possible one by one. This is a painfully slow and click-heavy activity when there are many parameters to be added. This also risks slowing down Alma UI when upwards of several hundred fields (as advised by Ex Libris Support).
It is proposed to support many values to be copy and pasted in to a single field by a string with separator, such as an OR Boolean or semi-colon representing the OR.Use case: We use a logical set to fuel our Collection Discovery collection titled “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors”. We’re now in the process of shifting this from a curated collection by manual addition of a bibliographic local field to a single work for the author to a comprehensive collection for all works we hold by the Authority IDs for the identified authors. We have already contributed more than 70 new LCNAMES Authorities via NACO membership as part of this work supporting recognition of First Nations peoples and for our faculty to indigenise their curriculum by ease of ability to find our related holdings in Primo by Collection facet and collection. However, Alma makes this process difficult in our logical set in having to one by one add the Authority IDs. Ex Libris confirmed there is no current functionality to meet this need.
Example string for Authority ID contains phrase no2025050743 OR no2025048340 OR no2025018153 OR no2025013888 OR no00089878 OR no2025019805 OR no2025026097 OR no2025018142 OR no2025018141 OR no2025061608 OR no2025019804 OR no2025020415 OR no2025030597 OR n93058348 OR no2025034631 OR no2025022265
See screenshot attached for the current situation and improvement option suggestions.
Currently adding fields and values to Alma Advanced Search is only possible one by one. This is a painfully slow and click-heavy activity when there are many parameters to be added. This also risks slowing down Alma UI when upwards of several hundred fields (as advised by Ex Libris Support).
It is proposed to support many values to be copy and pasted in to a single field by a string with separator, such as an OR Boolean or semi-colon representing the OR.Use case: We use a logical set to fuel our Collection Discovery collection titled “Aboriginal and Torres Strait…
1 vote -
Request for a List of Selectable Special Characters in the MDE Virtual Keyboard
Request regarding the MDE virtual keyboard for inserting special characters, which became available with the August 2025 release.
I would like to be able to view all available characters at once, or to change the order of the character code blocks in the drop-down menu.
It would be especially helpful if the characters could be displayed in Unicode order.
Currently, characters are grouped and selectable via a drop-down menu, but this structure requires users to know which set contains the character they want to input.
This makes the process inconvenient, especially when searching for less common characters.129 votes -
Enable local extensions on MARC 79X and 89X
OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards sets out tags 79X (790-799) and 89X (896-899) as valid for local uses. These ranges should be available for network zone members to use as well. Adopting these ranges will allow catalogers to directly adapt records from WorldCat into a network and add local extensions without having to remap from the OCLC-supported field to a field in Alma, such as a 9XX.
Catalogers primarily use these fields to enter details such as authors with local affiliations (e.g., current faculty members), dissertation advisors or members of dissertation committees, and the college within the institution supervising the dissertation. These are locally-relevant data that are not always relevant in the universal, shared record. Allowing their inclusion enables a network member to highlight what makes the record and information valuable to the institution.
Moreover, the use of a local extension for this data helps protect the data from removal by other network members, and the data are protected if the network record is overlaid by a WorldCat record that doesn't retain that data.
OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards sets out tags 79X (790-799) and 89X (896-899) as valid for local uses. These ranges should be available for network zone members to use as well. Adopting these ranges will allow catalogers to directly adapt records from WorldCat into a network and add local extensions without having to remap from the OCLC-supported field to a field in Alma, such as a 9XX.
Catalogers primarily use these fields to enter details such as authors with local affiliations (e.g., current faculty members), dissertation advisors or members of dissertation committees, and the college within the institution supervising the…
8 votes -
Add Primary ID to Creators and Modifiers of Analytics Reports
Currently, Analytics displays only the Created Date and Modified Date for reports, without showing which user performed these actions. This makes it difficult to identify ownership or responsibility for a report, and complicates collaboration among staff.
I propose adding the Primary ID of the user who created a report and of the user who last modified it. This would:
1.Improve accountability and change tracking.
2.Make it easier to follow up with colleagues about report logic or updates.
3.Align Analytics with other Alma areas where user IDs are already visible in audit trails.
Adding this information would strengthen report governance and reduce confusion when multiple staff work in Analytics.
Currently, Analytics displays only the Created Date and Modified Date for reports, without showing which user performed these actions. This makes it difficult to identify ownership or responsibility for a report, and complicates collaboration among staff.
I propose adding the Primary ID of the user who created a report and of the user who last modified it. This would:
1.Improve accountability and change tracking.
2.Make it easier to follow up with colleagues about report logic or updates.
3.Align Analytics with other Alma areas where user IDs are already visible in audit trails.
Adding this information would strengthen report governance and…
2 votes -
Version History for Letter XSL Templates
Currently, Alma does not store version history for XSL templates used in letters. This creates risk: if a change introduces errors, there is no easy way to roll back.
I propose adding version history functionality - similar to the “View Versions” feature in the Metadata Editor - so staff can revert to earlier versions when needed. Ideally, previous versions could also be labelled for clarity.
This enhancement would:
Reduce the risk of breaking live communications with untested changes.
Eliminate the need for external tracking in GitHub or personal repositories.
Adding version control would make template management safer, more efficient, and fully integrated into Alma.
Currently, Alma does not store version history for XSL templates used in letters. This creates risk: if a change introduces errors, there is no easy way to roll back.
I propose adding version history functionality - similar to the “View Versions” feature in the Metadata Editor - so staff can revert to earlier versions when needed. Ideally, previous versions could also be labelled for clarity.
This enhancement would:
Reduce the risk of breaking live communications with untested changes.
Eliminate the need for external tracking in GitHub or personal repositories.
Adding version control would make template management safer, more efficient, and…
1 vote -
Expanding Unicode Tool range in Metadata Editor
The new Insert Unicode Characters tool in the Metadata Editor should be expanded to include the 0300-036F range of characters. This range includes several diacritics that are commonly used by catalogers, including the ligature (0361), candrabindu (0310), and combining diaeresis below (0324).
21 votes -
Alma TPRS - Remote System ID number 001 is populated in Alma Request UI
Currently,
If TPRS sends their system identification number 001 e.g. "000074745018 " in their system, this 001 field vale does not get populated in the receiving side Alma's Lending request UI despite this value may be found in xml <supplierUniqueRecordId>i.e. ALMA UI > Lending Request > field Remote Record ID = empty
We would like this to be populated in the Lending request Form, so that staff can view Remote Record ID as consistantly reflecting TPRS 001 value, in both Borrowing and Lending requests. Book or Article requests.
3 votes -
Alma TPRS - allow direct delivery without showing borrower email address to the lending library.
Currently the recommended config for TPRS ALMA delivery is to make the use of Alma RS Library email address as the recipient, and library staff then mediate, upload.
i.e. UNCHECK "Supports ADD Address'.
Partner > TPRS broker > Parameters > Alternative Delivery Address > Supports ADD Address (uncheck)This workflow requires library staff from the borrowing side to pick up the article from Library email, then upload the pdf back to the original Borrowing Request to the client (using Alma Letter with Amazon server controlled delivery -i.e. x number of downloads within x number of days).
We would hope lending library can deliver an article directly to the borrowing library’s patron, without borrowing Library’s mediation.
However tests shows that if "Supports ADD Address' is checked, patron's email from the borrowing side - is exposed to the lending library xml datasheet.
We are hoping if this can be hidden from view (yet exists in fact), then the lending library can deliver an article directly to the borrowing library’s patron, without borrowing Library’s mediation, imitate the workflow of RapidILL. #08094193
Currently the recommended config for TPRS ALMA delivery is to make the use of Alma RS Library email address as the recipient, and library staff then mediate, upload.
i.e. UNCHECK "Supports ADD Address'.
Partner > TPRS broker > Parameters > Alternative Delivery Address > Supports ADD Address (uncheck)This workflow requires library staff from the borrowing side to pick up the article from Library email, then upload the pdf back to the original Borrowing Request to the client (using Alma Letter with Amazon server controlled delivery -i.e. x number of downloads within x number of days).
We would hope lending…
3 votes -
Protecting Additional Identifiers from the SIS loader
We receive patron information from multiple sources and files. When we run our SIS sync to add and update patrons, it removes all of the additional identifiers on the account because those come from another file. This results in us needing to overlay additional identifiers using a separate process. We would like to have the ability to protect the additional identifier fields from the SIS sync .
19 votes -
Notes tab visible as a column in the partner list in Resource sharing
It would be very useful to have the Notes tab (free exchange, fast library, costs...) visible immediately as a column in the partner list to help us choose quickly the partner that sends the request to
2 votes -
Allow Resource Sharing Request Owning Library to be Set by Pick Up Location
The Owning Library designation in a resource sharing borrowing request determines where the lending library will send the item. In most instances it is preferable for the Owning Library and the Pick up Location to be the same - that way, in the case of an institution with multiple remote libraries, the item will be sent to where the patron want to pick it up.
Out of the box, it is currently it is possible to set a default Owning Library, or else allow the patron to choose the "Owner" on the resource sharing request form. It is also possible to designate a Resource Sharing Library in the user record.
The first option only works if your institution only has one resource sharing library and delivering to other libraries on campus is not a problem. The second option would require patron training and is unlikely to be consistently correct. The final option, adding a resource sharing library to the patron record can get pretty complicated when working with patron loads. It is also fairly common for a patron to be in a law program, and perhaps get assigned the law library as a RS library, but live near main campus and prefer to pick up their items there.
I think it would be great if there could be a code table that would allow admins to crosswalk which resource sharing library would be the owner of a request based on the pick up location chosen by the patron. I hope this can be considered for Alma Resource Sharing as well as Rapido.
The Owning Library designation in a resource sharing borrowing request determines where the lending library will send the item. In most instances it is preferable for the Owning Library and the Pick up Location to be the same - that way, in the case of an institution with multiple remote libraries, the item will be sent to where the patron want to pick it up.
Out of the box, it is currently it is possible to set a default Owning Library, or else allow the patron to choose the "Owner" on the resource sharing request form. It is also possible…
23 votes -
MD editor save marc tags chronologically
Upon save any MARC tags that are in the wrong chronological order are saved in the correct order.
13 votes -
Alma TPRS integration Resource Sharinng - request bib / request fields missing
Currently there are a number of fields not mapped correctly for TPRS-ALMA integration.
We would like this to be enhanced. See #08113211
====ISSUES==============
Subtitle field data entered in TPRS not appearing on the Alma side.Missing values for Author initials and Additional Person Name.
(Borrowing) Book Request (Alma borrows from TPRS) - Alma sends Data "Place of publication", this value did not land on (TPRS)?
13 votes -
Make default filters removeable or customizable
The current version of Alma (as of 8/25) automatically filters out loans, and even clicking the "loans" tab in the fulfillment center will not display them; to see a patron's loans, you have to clear a filter. I have no idea why Alma would want to hide basic loan information from users in the first place, much less make it a barrier that has to be manually cleared every time a patron account comes up. And of all the myriad things that can be customized in Alma... this isn't one of them. Please make this filter removeable or modifiable. It's an unnecessary and frankly bizarre barrier to efficient patron services.
The current version of Alma (as of 8/25) automatically filters out loans, and even clicking the "loans" tab in the fulfillment center will not display them; to see a patron's loans, you have to clear a filter. I have no idea why Alma would want to hide basic loan information from users in the first place, much less make it a barrier that has to be manually cleared every time a patron account comes up. And of all the myriad things that can be customized in Alma... this isn't one of them. Please make this filter removeable or modifiable. It's…
1 vote -
Allow for custom invoice template for invoices from PO.
The additional lines that auto add are not a benefit for us and slow down the invoice creation process.
1 vote -
3 votes
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