Alma
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1693 results found
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Attach printed letters to user record
We send our bill notice to a central email account for price checking before sending onto the user.
Request is for any notice to be added to a users record in the attachment tab, whether it is emailed or sent to print.
38 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 up the whole process for our patrons.
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…
50 votes -
Add moore options to local portoflio
Usefull to be able to add moore fields in the "add local portfolio"Moore authors and a publishing year
15 votes -
Improve the management of license terms in config
Currently to manage the order and organization of license terms in Alma, we have to number each term we wish to use in order. If we want to add or reorder, we need to carefully renumber the existing terms so we don't accidentally use the same number twice and risk overwriting existing terms. While we've all learned work-arounds for this, given the amount of work it takes to maintain our hundreds of licenses, it seems risky to have this form of ordering. It would be much better to have the functionality that appears elsewhere in Alma that allows for lines to be moved up and down in a list. This would prevent any accidental overwrites. This functionality appears elsewhere in Alma so it would be useful to apply it in the license config.
Currently to manage the order and organization of license terms in Alma, we have to number each term we wish to use in order. If we want to add or reorder, we need to carefully renumber the existing terms so we don't accidentally use the same number twice and risk overwriting existing terms. While we've all learned work-arounds for this, given the amount of work it takes to maintain our hundreds of licenses, it seems risky to have this form of ordering. It would be much better to have the functionality that appears elsewhere in Alma that allows for lines…
56 votes -
Incoherent date in the “Date” column when the transaction type is “Expenditure”
According to the developer, the expenditure date comes from the invoice date and always comes from it (see documentation at https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_(English)/020Acquisitions/030Invoicing/020Creating_Invoices).
As you can see there, the calculation of the exchange rate is also done according to this date: "By default, Alma calculates the value of the transaction based on the exchange rate on the date specified in Invoice Date."
Now we know where the date comes from when the type of transaction is “Expenditure”. However, in other types of transactions (transfer, allocation, encumbrance, etc.) the date that appears corresponds to the moment in which the transaction occurs. For this reason, it seems impractical that in the type of transaction “Expenditure” the invoice date is used and not the date on which the transaction is triggered, that is, the “create on” date.
We request to incorporate a new column in the table of visualization of transactions that is “create on”.
We provide explanatory screenshot of how it could be implemented.
According to the developer, the expenditure date comes from the invoice date and always comes from it (see documentation at https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_(English)/020Acquisitions/030Invoicing/020Creating_Invoices).
As you can see there, the calculation of the exchange rate is also done according to this date: "By default, Alma calculates the value of the transaction based on the exchange rate on the date specified in Invoice Date."
Now we know where the date comes from when the type of transaction is “Expenditure”. However, in other types of transactions (transfer, allocation, encumbrance, etc.) the date that appears corresponds to the moment in which the transaction occurs. For…
29 votes -
Option to sort reading list citations by publication date
Instructors sometimes want to sort citations in a reading list by publication date. We would like the options “Date – ascending” and “Date – descending” added to the “Sort by” dropdown in Alma and to the “Order citations in all sections” dropdown in Leganto, so that either library staff or instructors could make this change.
We know that data in this field can take on different forms because of the way it is entered in the bib record. For instance, it could be e.g. "c2000", "2000", "2000-2001" etc., so some normalization may have to occur
18 votes -
Fulfillment Overrides without separate login
When an override by a manager is needed at a circulation workstation, there should be a way for the manager to override either remotely or at the workstation without the operator logging out.
70 votes -
Fulfillment Configuration Utility for resource sharing
I would like Fulfillment Configuration Utility to also work for Resource Sharing. Or a separate service for RS.
It is invaluable in troubleshooting.
This service could be a light in the dark cave that is RS.
19 votes -
Short Loan Reminder - overdue notice doesn't display due time
The Short Loan Reminder uses the Full Overdue and Lost Loan Notification letter for the overdue reminder (sent x minutes after due time). This letter does not display the due time of loans however, and is not configurable.
88 votes -
Allow a staff to set his/her default department
We are required to choose a "current desk/department" for each login. However, since each staff usually has his/her major role, meaning he/she might most of the time work on the same desk/department. To be more friendly, it's better to have staff to set his/her own default department and select other location when necessary.
19 votes -
Alma bookings - concurrent bookings issue
Our institution wants to introduce bookings in Alma for our High Demand loans, which are 3 hours.
The main issue we’ve found is concurrent bookings, see scenarios below, with a 5 minute exclusion set up:
• A books item for 11:40-12:40 - however doesn’t borrow the item within the 5 minute exclusion
• B books item at 11:46, for 11:50-12.50
• A checks out item at 11:53, despite booking for B at 11:50
What is needed is some mechanism for bookings to expire automatically once the exclusion period is reached.
87 votes -
Ability to store & track VPAT® documents
As part of the procurement or licensing process, many libraries may request that a vendor provide a VPAT® (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) in order to indicate their compliance with Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act. It would be desirable if functionality could be developed somewhere in Alma that would allow libraries to track & report whether/when a VPAT was requested and received, which VPAT version was used, and local notes related to accessibility testing.
106 votes -
Undo receipt of item on a continuous type order for which "Keep in Department" was not checked
While it is currently possible to “un-receive” from the receiving workbench if the item is still in the Acquisitions Department, that will not be the case for our continuous orders.
There is no good option for undoing the accidental receipt of a serial issue, at least not that our trainer was able to show us in our Alma Functional Workshop.
115 votes -
Alma User Role for Editing/Deleting only Quick-Cataloged Records
Scenario:
Library staff frequently need to create records for resources using the Quick Cataloging feature. Often, those records need to be edited after creation, due to mismatching resource types, updated information, operator input errors, etc. Most of the staff using the Quick Cataloging feature are not trained as catalogers, and do not have cataloging roles in Alma.Problem:
Quick-Cataloged records are not editable by staff without cataloging roles in Alma - who are frequently the creators/managers of these records. This has led to several different workarounds at various institutions:Some institutions have given their non-cataloging staff full cataloging permissions to mitigate the inability of Reserves and ILL staff roles to delete and edit bibs. Those non-cataloging staff then have privileges that allow editing of full records, Network Zone records, etc. These activities should be restricted to staff trained in cataloging.
At other institutions, cataloging privileges are only extended to staff in technical services. This requires an inefficient workflow between access services and technical services to correct mistakes or delete records created in error.
Request:
We would like to request an Alma user role that allows the deletion and update of Quick-Cataloged records only.This new role would reduce the number of users with full cataloging privileges and increase both data security and compliance with auditing requirements for institutions that give circulation staff cataloging roles so that they can edit these Quick-Cataloged records.
For institutions that restrict cataloging roles to trained catalogers, having such a role would allow them to streamline workflows for editing Quick-Cataloged records, and free up the time of their cataloging staff to focus on more specialized materials.
Scenario:
Library staff frequently need to create records for resources using the Quick Cataloging feature. Often, those records need to be edited after creation, due to mismatching resource types, updated information, operator input errors, etc. Most of the staff using the Quick Cataloging feature are not trained as catalogers, and do not have cataloging roles in Alma.Problem:
Quick-Cataloged records are not editable by staff without cataloging roles in Alma - who are frequently the creators/managers of these records. This has led to several different workarounds at various institutions:Some institutions have given their non-cataloging staff full cataloging permissions to…
66 votes -
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, it is essential that staff are able to quickly complete record creation tasks without having to “fix” the records later because the current “Book” and “Article” templates don’t contain the correct coding.This lack of proper templates leads to the need for libraries to educate non-cataloging staff on why records look/work the way they do, and to create “cheat sheets” for their use in editing quick-cataloged records to match their resource type. These fixes and workarounds add a considerable amount of time to the “Quick” Cataloging workflow.
Request:
The ability to configure multiple Quick Cataloging templates would more effectively meet libraries’ needs. For each template, staff should be able to configure the template’s default fields and mandatory fields. The templates, once configured, should appear in a drop-down selection list alongside the existing book and article record types when the Quick Cataloging feature is used.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,…165 votes -
Enhance Convert to Resource Sharing function on Pick From Shelf List
When you don't find a requested item at your institution, it is great to be able to 'convert it to a resource sharing request' -- however that function should mark the item missing from our institution. Since pick from shelf does NOT display barcode and once we select the item to be converted to resource sharing request, it disappears from the pick from shelf list, so it is very difficult and time consuming to find the item and toggle it to missing. Also, the resource sharing request might be canceled because the item at our institution shows up as 'item in place' .
When you don't find a requested item at your institution, it is great to be able to 'convert it to a resource sharing request' -- however that function should mark the item missing from our institution. Since pick from shelf does NOT display barcode and once we select the item to be converted to resource sharing request, it disappears from the pick from shelf list, so it is very difficult and time consuming to find the item and toggle it to missing. Also, the resource sharing request might be canceled because the item at our institution shows…
67 votes -
Link licenses to physical resources
Allow physical resources to have an attached license similar to electronic resources.
For example, a DVD may have specific educational and/or screening rights that we would like to save as a license and link to the DVD.
41 votes -
Add History to Vendor Records
Currently, there is no tab or area in the Vendor List in Alma to note Vendor Record history, as there is for items, orders and other areas. This would greatly help us investigate any problems, issues, or track changes, especially if we have multiple people with the Vendor Manager Role activated in order to manage the various EDI, contact information, and usage data tabs.
109 votes -
Create resource sharing integration with DOCLINE
Create integration for borrowing and lending requests to be pushed/pulled to/from DOCLINE.
See https://ideas.exlibrisgroup.com/forums/308173-alma/suggestions/37290289-alma-to-docline-oai-pmh-integration for holdings integration to DOCLINE.
58 votes -
Improve Alma's Licence „Controlled Vocabulary“ functionality
Background (as it works now):
Under „Manage License Terms“ a field can be defined as „Controlled Vocabulary“ and the defined CV values can be selected within a License. However, these CV values are only some kind of text module / boilerplate text which are copied into a specific license field. This means: when a CV value is changed or deleted, the content of this specific field in all licenses did not change. The change must be made in each license itself. A deleted CV value is displayed in the license field as: „<CV value> (not listed)“. The CV values functionality is quite the same as for e.g. item statistic fields (here it is fine, that code/text is only copied into item statistic fields and never changed again).
Enhancement:
To have a real benefit of CV values - in the case of licenses - it would be fine, if every change of a CV value (in the „License term controlled vocabulary“) is reflected in each license which uses this CV value. This means: not a phrase but an ID of a phrase is copied into the license field.
Changes of license fields via API:
We use links to websites and e-mail addresses in "CV value" fields. Currently it is not possible to update such "CV value" fields via API :-(
With suggested enhancement there is no need for API updates.Background (as it works now):
Under „Manage License Terms“ a field can be defined as „Controlled Vocabulary“ and the defined CV values can be selected within a License. However, these CV values are only some kind of text module / boilerplate text which are copied into a specific license field. This means: when a CV value is changed or deleted, the content of this specific field in all licenses did not change. The change must be made in each license itself. A deleted CV value is displayed in the license field as: „<CV value> (not listed)“. The CV values functionality…
25 votes
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