Alma
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1792 results found
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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 reasons" do not match with the "Reject reasons" (see attachement).
Because Alma is missing "Reject reason" and "Note to partner", the "Lender Reject Email Letter" provides hard-coded the following data:
/notification-data/reason-unfilled: Other
/notification-data/note-to-partner: Request cannot be fulfilledIt is fine that by canceling the fulfillment request, the ILL partner is also informed and the Resource Sharing Department does not have to perform this action additionally.
But no "standardized" reason for rejection (as in the reject form) and also no personalized note can be passed to the ILL partner.
As a result, there are always questions from ILL partners (whether the book cannot be borrowed in general or whether it is only borrowed at the moment).Possible solution:
The fulfillment request cancellation form provides a optional section where you can choose a "Reject reason" and place a "Note to partner" (which is necessary for the "Lender Reject Email Letter").Thank you in advance!
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…
32 votes -
Add Patron Limit threshold block for number of lost items
It should be possible to automatically block users based on a set threshold for the number of items they have checked out that are in a lost status.
Currently, the Patron Limits table only contains delinquency threshold blocks for Max Overdues, Max Cash, and Max Overdue Recalls.
Not all institutions automatically charge a lost item replacement fine for lost materials. For some lost items, the replacement cost may be below the Max Cash block threshold for the user’s user group, but the library would still like the user to be accountable for/aware of their lost status materials; being unable to continue to use library services until the lost item is returned has proven an effective way to automatically get the patron’s attention. The majority of institutions do not use the bursar functionality to automatically transfer fines to the patron’s campus account (or, the patron is a linked user from another institution who is not eligible to have their fines transfer to the bursar).
Being able to automatically block a patron based on their number of lost items, in addition to/instead of their owed Max Cash, will make the work of library staff more efficient. Please add a Lost Item threshold to the Patron Limits in Alma.
It should be possible to automatically block users based on a set threshold for the number of items they have checked out that are in a lost status.
Currently, the Patron Limits table only contains delinquency threshold blocks for Max Overdues, Max Cash, and Max Overdue Recalls.
Not all institutions automatically charge a lost item replacement fine for lost materials. For some lost items, the replacement cost may be below the Max Cash block threshold for the user’s user group, but the library would still like the user to be accountable for/aware of their lost status materials; being unable to…
59 votes -
Packaging PO Lines into a PO: properties
Currently PO lines are packaged into a single PO if all the following properties match:
- Vendor account
- Owner
- Currency
- Continuity – One-time/continuous
- Acquisition method
- Source type
- Ordering Library
- FundWe order from some suppliers in different currencies. Therefore, the match criteria "Currency" is unfortunately not ideal for us.
It would be great if you could adjust the criteria here for your own institution.Thank you in advance!
12 votes -
Australian Copyright compliance within Resource Sharing
Add Australian Copyright Compliance alongside the American Copyright Compliance option so Australian clients can utilise this feature via the Resource Sharing Borrower Copyright Management parameter.
49 votes -
Add "VAT Percentage" to Analytics
Currently there is no way to get the VAT percentage of an invoice or invoice line in Analytics. There is only "VAT Code %", but this is useless for institutions that don't use VAT Codes.
(see also cases 06640702 and 06605754)
1 vote -
Optimisation of reminders and overdue letters (anti-phishing)
The reminders and reminder letters sent to patrons currently often end up in upstream spam filters of the mail providers. If this is not the case, we regularly receive feedback that they considered some of the automated notifications to be spam or phishing mails.
On the one hand, we would like to be able to optimise the automated notifications so that they are less automatically classified as spam according to today's standards. Ideally, Alma would already take common standards into account. On the other hand, we would like to see the possibility to personalise the notifications more and, for example, to change the salutation from a simple "Good day" to a personal salutation such as "Dear Ms XY" (whereby the name is of course automatically taken from the account concerned).
The reminders and reminder letters sent to patrons currently often end up in upstream spam filters of the mail providers. If this is not the case, we regularly receive feedback that they considered some of the automated notifications to be spam or phishing mails.
On the one hand, we would like to be able to optimise the automated notifications so that they are less automatically classified as spam according to today's standards. Ideally, Alma would already take common standards into account. On the other hand, we would like to see the possibility to personalise the notifications more and, for example,…
59 votes -
Select partners from multiple pages when adding to rota or template
When adding partners to a borrowing request rota or rota template, you have the ability to add multiple partners at the same time but only if the partners appear on the same page of the partner pick list. Whenever you move to a different page of the pick list, selections on the previous page are lost.
Alma already has the ability to remember selections across multiple pages in other functional areas (e.g. selecting portfolios for activation from a CZ collection).
It would make creating a rota more efficient if this ability could be extended to the add partners list.12 votes -
PO Line: missing identifiers ISBN/ISSN/ISMN etc.
Please list all identifiers in the PO Line.
See the following examples:
Data in the bibliographic record --> data in the PO Line XML fileExample 1:
020 __ |a 9783702404727
024 2_ |a M008027376
--> PO Line - XML: only content of 020
<identifier>9783702404727</identifier>
<identifier_type>ISBN</identifier_type>Example 2:
024 3_ |a 730099129329
028 52 |a 8.551293
--> PO Line - XML: empty identifier
<identifier></identifier>
<identifier_type></identifier_type>Example 3:
020 __ |a 0415462444 (pbk.) |c £24.99
020 __ |a 9780415462440 (pbk.) |c £24.99
020 __ |a 0415462436 (hbk.) |c £70.00
020 __ |a 9780415462433 (hbk.) |c £70.00
--> PO Line - XML: only content of first 020
<identifier>0415462444 (pbk.)</identifier>
<identifier_type>ISBN</identifier_type>Status quo in Alma:
(1) The bibliographic information in a PO Line includes only one ISBN (Marc21 field 020) or ISSN (Marc21 field 022).
If a record includes more than one ISBN (or ISSN), this information is missing in the order letter.(2) In case of other materials than books and journals - without ISBN or ISSN - identifiers like ISMN and EAN (Marc21 024) or other publisher numbers (Marc21 field 028) are skipped --> the <identifier> field in the XML file is empty.
To give our vendors the best bibliographic information when ordering items via Alma, it is important to have all these identifiers within the XML file:
- please provide us all 020 / 022 entries, not only the first ISBN or ISSN
- please include also 024 and 028 to the XML file (it is possible, that a record has both: 020 and 024 or 028, etc.)Thank you in advance!
Please list all identifiers in the PO Line.
See the following examples:
Data in the bibliographic record --> data in the PO Line XML fileExample 1:
020 __ |a 9783702404727
024 2_ |a M008027376
--> PO Line - XML: only content of 020
<identifier>9783702404727</identifier>
<identifier_type>ISBN</identifier_type>Example 2:
024 3_ |a 730099129329
028 52 |a 8.551293
--> PO Line - XML: empty identifier
<identifier></identifier>
<identifier_type></identifier_type>Example 3:
020 __ |a 0415462444 (pbk.) |c £24.99
020 __ |a 9780415462440 (pbk.) |c £24.99
020 __ |a 0415462436 (hbk.) |c £70.00
020 __ |a 9780415462433 (hbk.) |c £70.00
--> PO Line - XML:…78 votes -
Add preferred pronouns field to contact people tab information in vendor
In the 'Contact people' tab of a vendor record, there is currently no option to add the preferred pronouns of an individual. There are preferred name and gender options but no where to record the pronouns they prefer.
vendor interface > Contact people > Add contact > Contact details.
4 votes -
Allow customization of the Notify User check box in Confirm Request Cancellation box.
Current default is that this item is checked, however with local processes, we would prefer not to automatically notify the patron in most circumstances. It would be better for us to opt-in than to opt-out.
1 vote -
Ability to add local notes for bib record when creating POLs
It would be nice to be able to add a local note which will become part of a bibliographic record when ordering/creating POLs-- without having to create the POL, then go into the bib record to add a note.
Currently, when creating POLs for multiple items needing notes, this can get very "clunky" with many additional steps.
Currently, one has to bring the record back up by deselecting Order lines and changing to All titles, find then edit, save and release the bib.
Some examples of local notes that would "transfer" to the bibliographic record: 590__ Written by Professor Plum. 953__ABCU Faculty and Staff Author Collection.
It would be nice to be able to add a local note which will become part of a bibliographic record when ordering/creating POLs-- without having to create the POL, then go into the bib record to add a note.
Currently, when creating POLs for multiple items needing notes, this can get very "clunky" with many additional steps.
Currently, one has to bring the record back up by deselecting Order lines and changing to All titles, find then edit, save and release the bib.
Some examples of local notes that would "transfer" to the bibliographic record: 590__ Written by Professor Plum.…
1 vote -
Provide better bib relinking functions
Provide better relinking functions. For example, when I need to move all the items (with multiple holdings) to another record, I need to transfer one holdings record at a time. It would be nice to be able to select the holdings records we want to move and relink them one time. Also when we are moving course reserve holdings from a short bib record to a full bib record the reading list does not update to the full bib record. I have to go into the reading list and remove the old bib and attach the new bib record to the list. It would be nice if the reading list gets automatically updated.
Provide better relinking functions. For example, when I need to move all the items (with multiple holdings) to another record, I need to transfer one holdings record at a time. It would be nice to be able to select the holdings records we want to move and relink them one time. Also when we are moving course reserve holdings from a short bib record to a full bib record the reading list does not update to the full bib record. I have to go into the reading list and remove the old bib and attach the new bib record to…
6 votes -
Adding the borrower code stats to the patron detailstable in the fullfiment subject area
The fullfiment subject area contains several tables related to the readers who borrowed the document including the "patron details" and "borrower details" tables. According to the documentation the data stored in the patron detail table are the characteristics of the reader at the time of the transaction. The "borrower details" table stores the characteristics of the reader at the time of the request.
It would be useful if the patron statistical codes were stored in the "patron details" table so that they can be historized.
Indeed, like many other libraries, we use these statistics to identify the academic department of the reader, his or her level of study and other information that allows us to make a detailed analysis of the use of our collections. However, this information evolves throughout the schooling or career of our readers. In addition, administrative re-enrolments take place throughout the academic year and the basic reports are therefore difficult to produce.
The addition of statistical codes to the patron details table would allow us to follow the usage of our collections according to the statistical codes of our readers.The fullfiment subject area contains several tables related to the readers who borrowed the document including the "patron details" and "borrower details" tables. According to the documentation the data stored in the patron detail table are the characteristics of the reader at the time of the transaction. The "borrower details" table stores the characteristics of the reader at the time of the request.
It would be useful if the patron statistical codes were stored in the "patron details" table so that they can be historized.
Indeed, like many other libraries, we use these statistics to identify the academic department…7 votes -
Add "Price paid" field to POL form
Adding a "Price paid" field in the Pricing area of the Purchase Order Line Details form-- and/or making the Net price per copy box accept text input-- would be helpful for invoices/receipts that only include the price paid.
Currently one needs to calculate the Discount (amount) [or Discount (%)], which may also include looking up [current] List price before subtracting the amount paid to calculate the discount.
(Speaking of current List price, if this could somehow be "grabbed" to automatically populate the list price field, rather than needing to look up the information and manually input the amount, that could be very helpful as well.)
Adding a "Price paid" field in the Pricing area of the Purchase Order Line Details form-- and/or making the Net price per copy box accept text input-- would be helpful for invoices/receipts that only include the price paid.
Currently one needs to calculate the Discount (amount) [or Discount (%)], which may also include looking up [current] List price before subtracting the amount paid to calculate the discount.
(Speaking of current List price, if this could somehow be "grabbed" to automatically populate the list price field, rather than needing to look up the information and manually input the amount, that could…
2 votes -
Disputed fine to trigger a task
It would be good if Alma could trigger a task or notice to staff or supervisors responsible for dealing with disputed fines when public service staff mark a fine as such.
1 vote -
Add "credit" to Fees and Fines subject area
Users want to create reports that show credits issued by which operators, the date and amount of the credit, who the credit was issued to and what the credit was issued for.
1 vote -
Include column for Bin number in SIP2 Bin Configuration Rules
It would be very helpful to see the Bin number available in the columns on the SIP2 Bin Configuration rules overview screen as currently, each rule must be accessed individually to see the associated bin, which is a fundamental part of the rule.
1 vote -
"Purchase Request Status Letter": take the sender from library address
The "Purchase Request Status Letter" takes the sender from the label "addressFrom" on the Letter configuration.
We would like to suggest that the sender for this letter would be taken from the email address of the library that manages the request.
This behaviour already exists for other acquisition letters, for exemple the "Interested In" letter.
11 votes -
Require a better fines and fees summary report
Would like to see an actual report that summarizes the days transactions by transaction type (one line each for fines, lost payments, processing fees, etc., inlcuding the total number of transactions and amounts) in one section and then a summary of transactions by payment method (# of transactions and the total), with a line for the grand total. An itemized list of transactions would not be required as staff generally just need the totals to balance at the end of the day/shift. While something like this can be built in analytics, that data is not available until the next day, which is not helpful.
Would like to see an actual report that summarizes the days transactions by transaction type (one line each for fines, lost payments, processing fees, etc., inlcuding the total number of transactions and amounts) in one section and then a summary of transactions by payment method (# of transactions and the total), with a line for the grand total. An itemized list of transactions would not be required as staff generally just need the totals to balance at the end of the day/shift. While something like this can be built in analytics, that data is not available until the next day,…
3 votes -
Add "Status" to user searches
There is no current method for adding "Status" to the list of available selections when running a User search in Alma; as such, the only way to find a list of active users is to either use the filter provided post-search (the selections in which are "All," "Active and not expired," and "Not active and expired") or to use Analytics.
However, these filter options exclude searches for users who are both Active and Expired, and using Analytics to create a report for this result requires multiple steps to set up before you can get a result (and subsequently run jobs on a set derived from the report).
Ideally, "Status" (with values of "Active" or "Inactive") would be available as a search option, even in an Advanced Search. These values already exist as part of a user record, so it should be a straightforward matter of adding it as a search index for Alma users to select. Alternatively, adding an additional filter of "Active and expired" would provide the same result.
There is no current method for adding "Status" to the list of available selections when running a User search in Alma; as such, the only way to find a list of active users is to either use the filter provided post-search (the selections in which are "All," "Active and not expired," and "Not active and expired") or to use Analytics.
However, these filter options exclude searches for users who are both Active and Expired, and using Analytics to create a report for this result requires multiple steps to set up before you can get a result (and subsequently run jobs…
8 votes
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