User Experience, Accessibility, and Infrastructure

Overview

User Experience

Alma is designed to have a modern and intuitive interface. We aim to allow the user to be efficient and to ensure that workflows are as simple as possible. We also take accessibility into consideration, with the goal of enabling people with disabilities to easily use the software.

Accessibility

At Ex Libris, we make every effort to ensure that Alma can be used by everyone. Alma is designed and developed to meet Level A and AA of the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) and Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act for features and functions. See the Alma Accessibility Statement.

Roadmap

2024 H2	2025 H1	2025 H2
Accessibility : Annual Conformance Report (based on VPAT) Sets – Enhanced Functionality Bulk Action Results Indication Menu Simplification: Support Similar Terms in Hebrew	Accessibility Improved Keyboard Shortcuts Upgrade to WCAG 2.2 Menu Simplification Customized Menu Support Similar Terms in Germen	Menu Simplification: Support Similar Terms in Spanish Jobs – New Layout

2024 H2

Support Microsoft Graph API For Sending Emails

What's New	Highlights	Impact
Sending emails from Alma will be done by calling Microsoft Graph APIs. The institution will be able to configure the Mail Handling integration profile to send emails using MS Graph API.	A new option of ‘Send using MS Graph API’ will be added to the Mail-Handling integration profile.	Since Microsoft deprecated Basic Auth for SMTP, we will provide support for sending emails by calling Microsoft Graph APIs which will allow continues emails distribution with no impact.

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Accessibility: Annual Conformance Report (based on VPAT)

What's New	Highlights	Impact
An updated Conformance Report on the newest compliance with WCAG 2.1 Levels A and AA, covering the current and new layout.	A new Conformance Report for WCAG 2.1 based on a third-party leading accessibility company audit. Update compliance after enhancements. Report on existing exceptions. Covers the new layout.	Transparency regarding accessibility compliance. Easier to use by people with disabilities.

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Sets – Enhanced Functionality

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Simplifying the sets process to be quicker and more straightforward, including quick access capabilities.	Intuitive and straightforward set creation. Quick and intuitive utilization of sets for various jobs. Quick access to commonly used sets. Easier sets management.	Simpler workflows with fewer clicks and more efficiency.

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Bulk Action Results Indication

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
A new and clearer indication in the result status of bulk actions done by the user.	A Success / Failure / Warning indication will appear next to every effected record. The user will have the ability to filter the list of records based on the action's result status.	An efficient workflow for errors handling.

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Menu Simplification: Support Similar Terms in Hebrew

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Support similar terms in additional languages.	Search-matching capabilities for non-identical terms in additional languages: Hebrew Note: The additional languages will be coordinated with the relevant Alma user community.	The librarian will be able to find relevant entries in the menu based on a standard term in the same language as the interface language.

What’s New

Highlights

Impact

Support similar terms in additional languages.

Search-matching capabilities for non-identical terms in additional languages:

Hebrew

Note: The additional languages will be coordinated with the relevant Alma user community.

The librarian will be able to find relevant entries in the menu based on a standard term in the same language as the interface language.

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2025 H1

Accessibility: Improved Keyboard Shortcuts

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Align keyboard shortcut behavior between the current and new layout pages.	Supporting shortcuts in the new layout pages similar to current pages. Additional shortcuts for common actions.	Strengthening accessibility across Alma, with less use of the mouse and more intuitive and familiar keyboard actions.

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Accessibility: Upgrade to WCAG 2.2 AA

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
The UI will comply with the new WCAG 2.2 accessibility standard.	Compliance with new criteria in WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA: 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) (AA) 2.5.7 Dragging Movements (AA) 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) (AA) 3.2.6 Consistent Help (A) 3.3.7 Redundant Entry (A) 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) (AA)	Easier to use by people with disabilities.

What’s New

Highlights

Impact

The UI will comply with the new WCAG 2.2 accessibility standard.

Compliance with new criteria in WCAG 2.2 Level A and AA:

2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum) (AA)
2.5.7 Dragging Movements (AA)
2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) (AA)
3.2.6 Consistent Help (A)
3.3.7 Redundant Entry (A)
3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum) (AA)

Easier to use by people with disabilities.

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Menu Simplification: Customized Menu

Workflow Simplification Theme

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
The librarian by default will have a simplified menu and will be able to choose entries commonly accessed.	A new simplified menu will be implemented by default with the most common entries. A new ability to customize the menu using simple drag-and-drop functionality. It will be easy to access the full menu when needed.	The menu will be customized according to your needs, allowing quick access and improved usability.

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Menu Simplification: Support Similar Terms in German

Workflow Simplification theme

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Support similar terms in additional languages.	Search-matching capabilities for non-identical terms in additional languages: German Note: The additional languages will be coordinated with the relevant Alma user community.	The librarian will be able to find relevant entries in the menu based on a standard term in the same language as the interface language.

What’s New

Highlights

Impact

Support similar terms in additional languages.

Search-matching capabilities for non-identical terms in additional languages:

German

Note: The additional languages will be coordinated with the relevant Alma user community.

The librarian will be able to find relevant entries in the menu based on a standard term in the same language as the interface language.

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2025 H2

Menu Simplification: Support Similar Terms in Spanish

Workflow Simplification theme

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Support similar terms in additional languages.	Search-matching capabilities for non-identical terms in additional languages: Spanish Note: The additional languages will be coordinated with the relevant Alma user community.	The librarian will be able to find relevant entries in the menu based on a standard term in the same language as the interface language.

What’s New

Highlights

Impact

Support similar terms in additional languages.

Search-matching capabilities for non-identical terms in additional languages:

Spanish

Note: The additional languages will be coordinated with the relevant Alma user community.

The librarian will be able to find relevant entries in the menu based on a standard term in the same language as the interface language.

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Jobs – New Layout

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
A quick and intuitive way to use jobs, including improved job timing and scheduling capabilities.	Creating jobs will be more intuitive and straightforward. Job scheduling will be flexible and easy to do. Accessing often-used jobs will be quick and intuitive.	Simpler workflows with fewer clicks and more efficiency.

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