Alma
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1749 results found
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Bulk update block expiry date
In January 2018, fulfillment enhancement was added to allow library staff to manually add a block expiry date and edit the expiration date on an existing block. (See https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/010_2018/12_January_2018/Alma_January_2018_Release_Notes/04Fulfillment_-_January_2018_Enhancements)
We would really like to have the option to input a block expiry date in the bulk update/notify users job when adding a block type, instead of manually adding the blocks with expiry date one at a time for a batch of library user records.
10 votes -
Add Financial System Code to the Vendor Dimension of Alma Analytics in the Funds Expenditure SA
The Financial System Code field is often the matchpoint between Alma and external payments systems. Being able to search or query on this would help avoid creating duplicate vendors, especially as vendor names can change so much over time, that a vendor name search will not return results. Having this reportable in Alma Analytics would be more beneficial than in the Alma Advanced Search, as it could also help to de-duplicate existing instances of having more than one vendor record for the same vendor.
25 votes -
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 the request so it would be good if these systems could be connected in some way through the article galaxy add-on cloud app.
What would also be helpful is if this could interrogate our electronic collections so library staff are not making requests for articles we also subscribe to which sometimes happens.
Overall this would provide an integrated and improved resource sharing process
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 the…
4 votes -
Provide all User Profile data via API
Please provide at least GET API access to user profile data (Config -> User Management -> Roles and Registration -> Profiles). This should be full data: for each profile, include full roles and parameters.
Currently, there is no good way to export user profile data from Alma. It does not seem to be available in Analytics; it's not in any of the code or mapping tables available via "config" APIs.
We can use the Alma UI to export each profile to Excel individually... but that is not practical at scale, and the role data we can extract from Excel is not directly applicable / compatible with what's needed for the "user_role" data in the "user" APIs.
Having accurate and complete user profile data available via API would make it much easier and safer to manage our staff permissions programmatically.
Please provide at least GET API access to user profile data (Config -> User Management -> Roles and Registration -> Profiles). This should be full data: for each profile, include full roles and parameters.
Currently, there is no good way to export user profile data from Alma. It does not seem to be available in Analytics; it's not in any of the code or mapping tables available via "config" APIs.
We can use the Alma UI to export each profile to Excel individually... but that is not practical at scale, and the role data we can extract from Excel is…
9 votes -
Change / improve the Booking process for staff and patrons
Hi all,
We wish to submit a proposal to change the current booking process for staff creating a booking request in Alma AND for patrons creating their own bookings in PRIMO VE.
Now, Alma’s option to submit ‘’ Booking ‘’ requests requires us to first search an item, select it and then enter booking times for each piece of equipment desired, which is very time consuming.
When patrons book equipment, they often need up to 10 or more pieces of equipment for the same booking period. This is quite inconvenient and increases the risk of mistakes in the process.
In our proposal, we wish to suggest a booking sequence in the following order:
- Client login
- Set checkout and return date
- Select items
- Submit the booking request
If possible, send a Booking confirmation email to client and to operator. A 36 hours in advance booking would also be quite helpful for operators to give them time to prepare the items before checkout date.
This process would improve the workflow, reducing the risks of mistakes, facilitating the process for both patron and operator. At the same time, this would most likely regroup all items to the same Booking request rather them having many different requests for the same patron.
Hi all,
We wish to submit a proposal to change the current booking process for staff creating a booking request in Alma AND for patrons creating their own bookings in PRIMO VE.
Now, Alma’s option to submit ‘’ Booking ‘’ requests requires us to first search an item, select it and then enter booking times for each piece of equipment desired, which is very time consuming.
When patrons book equipment, they often need up to 10 or more pieces of equipment for the same booking period. This is quite inconvenient and increases the risk of mistakes in the process.
In…
40 votes -
Add Loan Information to Fulfillment Set Export
When Create Fulfillment Set is used to create a set of items that are Overdue, Lost, Claimed Returned etc it would be very useful for the loan and borrower's information to be included in the exported spreadsheet.
Currently only the Process Type and Due Date are included. Including the Loan date, Patron's name, Primary ID, and Preferred email address would allow staff flexibility in contacting patrons by mail merge or manually.
1 vote -
Add Library Filter to Create Fulfillment Sets
The Create Fulfillment Sets functionality would be so much more useful if we could choose to create sets by Library rather than by the whole institution.
It's a very rare case to want to see Overdue, Lost, or Claimed Returned items for a whole institution and having to export the data into a spreadsheet in order to filter the results is very time consuming.
31 votes -
Ability to have more than customize payment status (paid/not paid)
We have several statuses that an invoice goes through - received, Open, coded, ready for payment and paid. Having the option to use configurable statuses would reduce the number of times we have to go into SAP to check payment status.
1 vote -
Improve Shelf Report functionality and responsiveness
Alma’s “Shelf Report” tool is a cumbersome, involved “inventory” process that requires users to populate a spreadsheet with barcode values, feed it to Alma, and then track down and manually identify any items that come back as an error (without Alma providing a timely or clear explanation for where a problem item might have been found if it was detected, or not detected). We’re aware of Dean Lingley’s API for “shelf inventory” and the WRLC “AlmaInventory” tool that attempt to cover some of these gaps, but neither of these replicate the same mass-scan-immediate-feedback-fix-it-and-move-on utility (without involving spreadsheets, macros, etc.) that we originally had with our previous ILS.
A useable, useful inventory system should allow us to scan barcodes in a range directly on the shelves, and be immediately notified when an item is either missing or shelved in the wrong place (because it either scanned another book first or didn’t scan it when it expected to). Likewise, this tool should allow us to mark a missing item as “Missing” during the scan, fix a “missing” status if we found it, and otherwise manage inventory aspects on the fly instead of taking information back to Alma and providing results or making these changes after running a report. “Shelf Report” should either be updated with this functionality, or another feature should be introduced alongside it to accomplish this.
Alma’s “Shelf Report” tool is a cumbersome, involved “inventory” process that requires users to populate a spreadsheet with barcode values, feed it to Alma, and then track down and manually identify any items that come back as an error (without Alma providing a timely or clear explanation for where a problem item might have been found if it was detected, or not detected). We’re aware of Dean Lingley’s API for “shelf inventory” and the WRLC “AlmaInventory” tool that attempt to cover some of these gaps, but neither of these replicate the same mass-scan-immediate-feedback-fix-it-and-move-on utility (without involving spreadsheets, macros, etc.) that…
80 votes -
account or book alarms
we often invoice customers for lost items only for them to return it without notifying a member of staff, meaning we have to keep checking either the book or the account to see if the books have been returned prompting us to cancel any invoices - it would be great if we could add an alarm to an account or book to notify us when a book has been returned...I envisage adding the ALARM to a BOOK or ACCOUNT when ever setting up blocks/fees associated with the account.
2 votes -
Increase password strength requirements
Our institution's security protocols require certain password strength requirements that do not align with ExL's general password guidelines of 8 characters or greater. With the rise of identity theft and database exploits, ExL standards are not up to date with current guidelines. Our institutions minimum password requirements are:
i. Be at least 15 characters long
ii. Be no more than 127 characters long.
– Some applications limit the number of characters that can be used.
iii. Not be used for the user’s other accounts.
iv. Not consist of a common phrase.
v. Not be based on something that’s guessable by knowing you or by reviewing information about you.
vi. Not consist of letter or number patterns.
vii.Not be similar to the user’s previous passphrases.Our institution's security protocols require certain password strength requirements that do not align with ExL's general password guidelines of 8 characters or greater. With the rise of identity theft and database exploits, ExL standards are not up to date with current guidelines. Our institutions minimum password requirements are:
i. Be at least 15 characters long
ii. Be no more than 127 characters long.
– Some applications limit the number of characters that can be used.
iii. Not be used for the user’s other accounts.
iv. Not consist of a common phrase.
v. Not be based on something that’s guessable by…9 votes -
User action history report
Our institution's security protocols require systems that handle confidential patron/student data have the ability to log backend staff user actions. After inquiring to ExL, the only way to know what a staff member has done in the system is to go through their individual history tab. However, this data is incomplete and doesn't give a full scope of what actions they took. In Analytics, the options provided are not useful and do not give us any useful information.
We'd like to track things like:
- When roles were issued
- Who issued roles
- Changes in configuration and who made the change
- What actions a staff member took on a given patron's account
- etcOur institution's security protocols require systems that handle confidential patron/student data have the ability to log backend staff user actions. After inquiring to ExL, the only way to know what a staff member has done in the system is to go through their individual history tab. However, this data is incomplete and doesn't give a full scope of what actions they took. In Analytics, the options provided are not useful and do not give us any useful information.
We'd like to track things like:
- When roles were issued
- Who issued roles
- Changes in configuration and who made…8 votes -
Analytics for count of resource sharing requests made via Course Reserves citations
We'd like to be able to see analytics data for resource sharing requests placed via Course Reserves citations. We are told by Support that this is not currently supported, and it was suggested that we create an idea here.
2 votes -
User Requests Should Pop or Be more Visible for Cataloguers
When cataloguers are processing new books or fixing bibliographic records or item records, there is no notification that a user has requested the item we are working on. We won't know to give the item to Fullfillment so that they can put the item aside for the user.
I know there is a little number that indicates there is a request, but for new books ordered in there is already 1 request from Acquisitions. This does not pop-up and it is just a little number that you can barely see in the results screen. It should be much more obvious when a user has put an item on hold.
When cataloguers are processing new books or fixing bibliographic records or item records, there is no notification that a user has requested the item we are working on. We won't know to give the item to Fullfillment so that they can put the item aside for the user.
I know there is a little number that indicates there is a request, but for new books ordered in there is already 1 request from Acquisitions. This does not pop-up and it is just a little number that you can barely see in the results screen. It should be much more obvious…
2 votes -
Change default value in pop-up message for shipped items in the scan in interface
This warning message was added in July 2020 release to prevent accidentally completing a lending request:
https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Release_Notes/2020/Alma_2020_Release_Notes
With the introduction of Rapido, we noticed this warning message popping up a lot more often, and since the default value is on "Confirm", many requests are cancelled accidentally by double-scanning. We would like to suggest that this message be set by default to "Cancel" rather than "Confirm" or being able to configure the preselected default value.
The mapping table is under: IZ Configuration > Fulfillment > Physical Fulfillment > Scan In Messages Configuration > line 3 Complete lending request.68 votes -
Add Archived/Unarchived Visibility Facet to Reading List
When a course is archived all of its associated reading lists also become archived but when you look in the Reading List page there is no way to determine which reading lists are archived without clicking the ellipse next to each reading list to see whether it has an Unarchive option.
It would be nice to be able to filter for this with a facet like you can with Courses.
1 vote -
Index POL Renewal Notes for Search
Please consider indexing the "Renewal Note" field on POLs for searching/advanced search. Having that data in Analytics is great, but it'd be very helpful to find it when searching Alma as well.
12 votes -
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
When encountering a problem (such as the inability to reactivate a request), could the system provide a pop-up with a definition of the problem and a suggested solution, like Google's "Did you Mean"?
17 votes -
Make it possible to update Funds by job
Being able to apply changes such as fund rules in batch would be tremendously helpful when you are a library with numerous ledgers and funds.
2 votes -
Automatic Upload of Electronic Holdings Integration Profile ELS ClinicalKey
I would like to suggest an API integration profile for Elsevier to include ClinicalKey collections. This feature is currently available for ScienceDirect and ScienceDirect eBooks, but not for ClinicalKey.
We currently spend a significant amount of time in deleting and adding portfolios to these collections each month.
3 votes
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