Fulfillment and Resource Sharing

Overview

Alma Fulfillment and Resource Sharing features allow patrons to gain quick and easy access to resources of all formats, utilizing library managed resources as well as resources the library can obtain from external resources.

Roadmap

2022 H1	2022 H2	2023
DARA Request Workflow Recommendations Limit Fulfillment Management Actions According to User Role Scope Export Resource Sharing Borrower Requests to WorldShare ILL and Tipasa Proxy User Expiration Date	Enhanced ILLiad Integration (Notes Management) Enhanced RapidILL Integration 'Query to Patron' Responses in Alma Resource Sharing Task Lists – Enhanced UX	Patron Services Screen – Enhanced UX Harvesting External Resource for Resource Sharing Automatic Purchase Requests Fulfillment Configuration Simplified

2022 H1

DARA Request Workflow Recommendations

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
DARA will identify resource requests that are taking a long time to process.	DARA will provide recommendations to review resource requests that are 'in process' for a long time, in order to review them and consider alternatives.	Quicker workflows provide better services to end users.

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Limit Fulfillment Management Actions According to User Role Scope

Library
Independence

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Staff users will be permitted to perform Fulfillment management actions based on the scope of their roles.	Various actions on the user record such as add or remove blocks/notes/attachments, will be enabled/disabled based on the scope definition of the user role (specific library level or institution level (across libraries)). See more details in the Library Independency document. The existing library information on circulation activities will be used to limit access to the loans/returns/requests/fines&fees. See more details in the Library Independency document.	Better control over staff activity across libraries.

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Export Resource Sharing Borrower Requests to WorldShare ILL and Tipasa

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Alma will be able to export borrower requests into WorldShare ILL and Tipasa for further processing.	Borrower request will be exported to WorldShare ILL and Tipasa. The lifecycle of the borrower request may continue in these systems and be further integrated with Alma via NCIP (for Tipasa).	WorldShare ILL and Tipasa can be seamlessly integrated in Alma's rota as suppliers of last resort. Requests can be fulfilled first by local rota members, and then be automatically exported to these systems for further processing.

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Proxy User Expiration Date

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
It will be possible to set an expiration date for proxy users.	When creating a proxy patron, it will be possible to set a date after which the proxy user will no longer be able to receive fulfillment services on behalf of the sponsor.	No need to manually manage the expiry of yearly proxy users.

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2022 H2

Enhanced ILLiad Integration (Notes Management)

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Including request notes in requests pushed to ILLiad.	Pushing borrowing requests into ILLiad will include request notes.	Full integration, including pushing borrowing requests notes to ILLiad.

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Enhanced RapidILL Integration

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
New integration points with RapidILL.	It will be possible to configure lending off times in Alma affecting RapidILL off times, without requiring double configuration. In addition, RapidILL errors will be better reflected in Alma.	Fully seamless workflow and configuration with RapidILL.

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'Query to Patron' Responses in Alma

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Automatic handling of patrons' responses to resource sharing request related queries.	Patrons will be able to answer queries sent to them by resource sharing staff directly in Alma.	Faster feedback from patrons on library queries and faster library processing of the requests.

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Resource Sharing Task Lists – Enhanced UX

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
New resource sharing task lists.	The new task lists will be redesigned to leverage new layout UX concepts such as a right pane work area, inline handling of note and patron queries and multiple facet selection.	More efficient work for the resource sharing staff and a quicker turnaround time for patrons.

Below is the in work prototype. This is being used as the basis for the design of the new resource sharing task lists.

More information can be found at the Workflow Simplification document.

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2023

Patron Services Screen – Enhanced UX

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
A new Patron Services screen.	The screen will be redesigned to leverage new layout capabilities and provide a fresh and improved user experience.	Quicker and more effective work at the circulation desk, using a cleaner and better personalized Patron Services screen.

Below is the in work prototype. This is being used as the basis for the design of the new Patron Services page.

More information can be found at the Workflow Simplification document.

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Harvesting External Resource for Resource Sharing

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Ability to place resource sharing requests from third party discovery interfaces.	Patrons will be able to used pre-populated forms for submitting resource sharing requests, based on search results of a third party discovery source.	Patrons will be able to launch resource sharing requests from many different discovery sources.

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Automatic Purchase Requests

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Libraries will be able to automatically launch a purchase process based on a resource sharing request.	Rules will enable launching a purchase request based on a resource sharing request’s attributes, such as: A copyright related block Publication Date Price	Library staff will enjoy more efficiency in managing purchasing processes based on patron requests and library defined criteria.

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Fulfillment Configuration Simplified

What’s New	Highlights	Impact
Easier to use tools to create and maintain fulfillment configurations.	New tools and a redesigned UI will make it easier to configure Fulfillment Units, rules, TOU's and policies, and to test them while configuring.	Clear and easy setup, reporting and maintenance of Fulfillment configurations.

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