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.
- or
1047 results found
-
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.
-
Allow a NR to run with the PTC job
TL;DR:
We would like to have the ability to run a normalization rule whenever the PTC modifies a record.Background:
In November 2024 Ex-Libris added a new functionality to the PTC job:
MARC 21 Preferred Term Correction Can Flip Headings with Cross-Reference in Different Field
https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2024/Alma_2024_Release_Notes?mon=202411Problem:
The PTC job only changes the first indicator correctly when the PTC job changes a field into 630.
in all other cases, the existing indicators remain.
We opened a case and spoke directly with Ex-Libris, but were told that the PTC job runs as intended, and that not handling the indicators is not…45 votes -
Remove the adding files process from Ship Item Digitally action for digital titles
New Ship Item digitally action is great, but adding file process seems to be redundant when the requested title is already a digital title so it has at least one digital representation and its files. It would be much better if the user can select the representation and the files to send when the request is for a digital title, and the receiving partner gets an email containing the files or the links for downloading them.
12 votesHi,
is also possible to to ship digital resources that are managed in Alma, regardless of whether the digital content is stored remotely (using a Remote Representation) or locally on Alma.On the Manage Resource Fulfillment Options page (Digital Services section), the following actions are available if there are Alma managed digital resources for the requested title:
- View – View the digital representation. If the representation is a Remote Representation, you can also use a Ship action to ship the digital content.
- View Files (if the representation is not a remote representation) – Choose one or more files to ship, if they are stored locally on Alma.
- Deliver – View the files.
-
Ability to customise email subject heading in Alma letters using letter data
As library staff we would like the ability to customise the email subject heading of Alma letters using letter data so that we can flag something up to a customer/use in their email inbox.
For example, we've recently customised our On Hold Shelf Letter using XSL to have different content when a customer is picking up a Resource Sharing request as we ask customers to collect these from our Customer Services desk whereas other requests are placed on a self service hold shelf in the library.
We were able to customise the letter using XSL, but could not find…18 votes -
Display Number of Renewals information under ‘Other Details’ of a Physical item
To enhance the circulation service and provide convenient access to usage information, we suggest displaying the renewal information including ‘number of renewals’ and ‘last renewal date’ under the ‘Other details’ section of a physical item in Alma. The number of renewals records how many times the due date of a loaned item was extended before the ‘maximum renewal period’. This figure is often essential to measure the usage and understand patron’s intention to continuously keep the loaned item.
In current release of Alma, the information under ‘Other details’ of a physical item shows usage information for circulation such as loans, …
18 votes -
Lending Requests - Save and Edit
We would like a Save and Edit button when entering new scan requests from a Search (like in Borrowing).
Currently there is only a Save button.10 votesHello All,
This idea has been closed as part of a cleanup process for ideas older than two years with fewer than 20 votes.
This cleanup process is necessary to streamline our idea management process and ensure that the most relevant and impactful ideas receive the attention they deserve. If you still feel strongly about this idea, you may submit it via the NERS process.
We value your feedback and encourage you to continue submitting and voting for ideas that you believe will enhance Alma.
Alma Product Team
-
Use article galaxy add-on to support resource sharing requests in Alma
At a recent Ex Libris event I was made aware of the Article Galaxy add-on https://developers.exlibrisgroup.com/appcenter/article-galaxy-add-on/
The information provide on the page suggests that this is only used with Rapido however we would be interested in using this feature as part of the regular Alma resource sharing process.
Currently we make most of our document delivery requests through Reprints desk but the user process means that library staff are alerted to a resource sharing request coming in from the user via Primo, they then manage this in Alma but have to then go to reprints desk separately to make…
4 votes -
Enable desk operators to select from a predetermined list of loan periods.
We would like desk operators to have the option of selecting from a list of predetermined check out periods for items in certain collections.
Boston College Libraries currently provide approximately 80 laptops to community members, which can be borrowed for a fixed loan period. For many patrons this static loan period is either too short or too long, adding some loan period choices would enable us to easily meet the needs of more patrons.
Currently in Alma, offering a variety of loan periods would require the creation of additional locations and terms of use. Doing so would enable us to…180 votesAdding more than one policy to a TOU would add a lot of complexity to TOU and loan rules management. Perhaps it is simpler to change a due date manually at loan time
-
Allow an IZ to be its own RS fulfillment network partner
In order to limit the request links that users must choose from, we would like to use resource sharing requests and the automated fulfillment network to first check local holdings and use that if available, then go to our fulfillment network partners if not. The most straight forward way to do this would be to make our IZ a fulfillment network partner and create an ordered rota template that would be applied before the template with our other partners.
12 votesHello All,
This idea has been closed as part of a cleanup process for ideas older than two years with fewer than 20 votes.
This cleanup process is necessary to streamline our idea management process and ensure that the most relevant and impactful ideas receive the attention they deserve. If you still feel strongly about this idea, you may submit it via the NERS process.
We value your feedback and encourage you to continue submitting and voting for ideas that you believe will enhance Alma.
Alma Product Team
-
Electronic portfolios in an electronic collection/packages should inherit data displays from the collection's service
Data elements that are set at a Electronic collection service level should cascade down and be applied/display at the electronic portfolio level.
While portfolios that are part of an electronic collection/package inherit the properties that are set at the service level, those inherited properties do not display in Alma in the individual portfolios. For example, the proxy value in the individual portfolios will always display in Alma as "No" even when the true value inherited from the electronic collection's service is "Yes." Similarly, a public or authentication note entered at the electronic collection or service level does not cascade down…43 votesAs part of Alma June release Advanced search query options were expanded to include Not Contains Keywords, Is Empty and Is Not Empty for electronic resources indexes.
For more information please see:
https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2020/Alma_2020_Release_Notes -
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…
25 votes -
Add call number information to Borrowing Requests subject area
This would allow us to do collection development based on the topics our users are interested in and in which our collections may be lacking. Reasons would include locate failed, unavailable at all holding libraries, and all the reasons that can be selected when a request is rejected.
3 votesHello All,
This idea has been closed as part of a cleanup process for ideas older than two years with fewer than 20 votes.
This cleanup process is necessary to streamline our idea management process and ensure that the most relevant and impactful ideas receive the attention they deserve. If you still feel strongly about this idea, you may submit it via the NERS process.
We value your feedback and encourage you to continue submitting and voting for ideas that you believe will enhance Alma.
Alma Product Team
-
Conditional Status and Email Message for Non-ISO Partners
We would like for to be able to send Conditional Messages by Email and for the Request Status to automatically change to Conditional when working with Non-ISO partners: see Jan. 2019 Release for ISO partners
7 votesHello All,
This idea has been closed as part of a cleanup process for ideas older than two years with fewer than 20 votes.
This cleanup process is necessary to streamline our idea management process and ensure that the most relevant and impactful ideas receive the attention they deserve. If you still feel strongly about this idea, you may submit it via the NERS process.
We value your feedback and encourage you to continue submitting and voting for ideas that you believe will enhance Alma.
Alma Product Team
-
Multiple Quick-Cataloging Templates
Scenario:
There are multiple workflows and purposes for which the Quick Cataloging interface is used. For example, in course reserves, staff frequently need to create records for different resource formats beyond book and article. Staff at the circulation desks need to create records any time an item brought to the desk is not found in Alma, and these resources can take any form - from sound recordings on CD to equipment like laptop chargers.Problem:
Not all of these materials fit the current “book” and “article” templates provided for Quick Cataloging. To enable efficient use of the Quick Cataloging feature,…166 votes -
Request for Improved linking to courses associated with a title from the ‘All Titles’ citation list
As Library staff I want to be able to link to an associated Course code without the multiple clicking that is currently required.
What is required:
We are requesting that the result of an All titles search immediately displays with a “Courses” hyperlink for each title that would result in the courses list displaying on the next page.
The Courses hyperlink would preferably display where the Orders and Requests hyperlinks currently display on the citation list page.Reasons:
This would have the benefits of
• Immediate identification of an associated course
• Providing a 1 link click (rather…3 votesHello All,
This idea has been closed as part of a cleanup process for ideas older than two years with fewer than 20 votes.
This cleanup process is necessary to streamline our idea management process and ensure that the most relevant and impactful ideas receive the attention they deserve. If you still feel strongly about this idea, you may submit it via the NERS process.
We value your feedback and encourage you to continue submitting and voting for ideas that you believe will enhance Alma.
Alma Product Team
-
Allow harvesting of reports with the non-standard SN:Total_Chapter_Request metric
I noticed that some vendors - Taylor and Francis and Springer- are adding this non-standard metric - SN:TotalChapterRequest - to their TR Master Reports. These are 2 big vendors, and these TR master reports won't load into Alma with this nonstandard metric in them.. I was hoping there is a way to accommodate them and allow them to load.
21 votes -
Ability to Bulk reassign RS requests
We would like the ability to bulk reassign requests in Alma RS, in terms of assigning a group of requests to one staff member to process rather than having to reassign individually.
9 votesHello All,
This idea has been closed as part of a cleanup process for ideas older than two years with fewer than 20 votes.
This cleanup process is necessary to streamline our idea management process and ensure that the most relevant and impactful ideas receive the attention they deserve. If you still feel strongly about this idea, you may submit it via the NERS process.
We value your feedback and encourage you to continue submitting and voting for ideas that you believe will enhance Alma.
Alma Product Team
-
Allow for greater variety in the scheduling of export invoices.
Currently, there are only a handful of pre-defined choices for scheduling the invoice export. None of them fit the time our accounting department set aside to work with our invoices specifically. Please allow greater flexibility when selecting a time to export/import invoices, ex> 1500 hrs on Wednesdays.
This request comes as a result of Salesforce case #00574513.
10 votesHello All,
This idea has been closed as part of a cleanup process for ideas older than two years with fewer than 20 votes.
This cleanup process is necessary to streamline our idea management process and ensure that the most relevant and impactful ideas receive the attention they deserve. If you still feel strongly about this idea, you may submit it via the NERS process.
We value your feedback and encourage you to continue submitting and voting for ideas that you believe will enhance Alma.
Alma Product Team
-
SUSHI harvesting for JSTOR
I noticed that our SUSHI harvesting for JSTOR hadn't worked successfully since May 2023. The requests for reports were coming back with this message:
{"Code": 1011, "Severity": "Warning", "Message": "Report Queued for Processing", "Help_URL": "https://support.jstor.org/hc/en-us/articles/360015483214-SUSHI-reports-COUNTER-5-overview", "Data": "Successful request. You must re-request this report to receive data. Please allow 1 hour for processing before retrying."}
So I reviewed the information here:
https://support.jstor.org/hc/en-us/articles/360015483214-SUSHI-reports-COUNTER-5-overviewThis page makes it clear that this is expected behaviour.
I ran a custom harvest for June-Sept 2023 and it failed (as expected).
I ran a second custom harvest an hour later and it…10 votes -
Establishment of stronger passwords for the creation of internal ALMA/Primo users
As an universities consortium from Galicia, CISUG, we are representing three member universities. Our univesrities have a security problem in the management the keys for internal users in Alma.
Alma's internal authentication system allows the user can create complex passwords, but this should be a requirement, not the user's responsibility as to whether they are secure or not.
Our request is that:
ALMA enforce passwords to be at least 8 characters long, and allow the system administrator to increase that minimum.ALMA allows to force mixed case, numbers, and special characters to créate paswords.
…Alma checks that the password is
52 votes
- Don't see your idea?