Alma Configurations

The library using Alma Peer-to-Peer will need to do configure the pod partners and settings in their NZ or IZ (depending on the setup of the library) to start using the US Hybrid Pod. Thankfully, after the initial configuration, Alma libraries will only need to add new partners and attach them to the Rotas each month. Most of the configuration only needs to be done once. 

A key feature of a Hybrid Pod is that it connects Alma and Rapido libraries. Patrons at Rapido libraries often request materials using records from the Global Title Index (GTI). To make it so Rapido patrons can discover materials owned by your library you will need to add your records to the GTI. 

To add your records to the GTI go to Alma Configuration > General > General Configuration > Data Sharing Profile. At the top of the resulting page is the Resource Sharing Data Sharing Profile. Select Yes and Save the settings. Your records will now be visible in the GTI. 

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Configuration  > Resource Sharing > Configuration > Members

One of the steps in Hybrid Pod creation is to share Resource Sharing with a Data Sharing Profile. After sharing your holdings, a new configuration menu will appear allowing you to configure what items can be shared through the Pod with a Participating Items Rule. The Participating Items Rule determines which items can be shared in the Hybrid Pod. Go to Configuration  > Resource Sharing > Configuration > Members and select your Resource Sharing library, and then navigate to the Physical Items and Lending Policies tab. 

To make a Participating Items rule click +Add Participating Items. In the resulting pop up you can make the rule using several filters. You can choose to only include or exclude certain Material types, include or exclude items with certain Item Policies, and/or include or exclude certain Locations. You may make rules that use multiple filters, for example: Materials Type Equals Books, Item Policy Not Equals Non-Circulating, and Location Equals 2nd Floor South.

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You may also choose to only use some filters. For example: Location Equals 2nd Floor South. 

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Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Workflow Profiles

You will need to create Workflow Profiles with certain pod settings to allow renewals and guide any staff workflows for items for the pod. Go to Alma Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Workflow Profiles and click Add Workflow Profile. Add the following Workflow Profile settings:

Borrowing Workflow Profile:

• Workflow Profile: US Hybrid Pod Borrowing
• Type: Borrowing
• Steps:
  • Cancelled By Partner
  • Cancelled By Staff
  • Declared Lost By Partner
  • Lender Check In
  • Reject
  • Cancelled By Patron
  • Recalled by Partner
  • Renew Requested

Lending Workflow Profile:

• Workflow Profile: US Hybrid Pod Lending
• Type: Lending
• Steps:
  • Borrower Recall
  • Patron Renewal
  • Renewal Response
  • Cancel Reply
  • Lender Check In
  • Staff Renewal

Configuration > Fulfillment > General > Other Settings

To make sure your consortia settings do not override the due dates of the US Hybrid Pod we recommend setting the Ignore Lender Due Date to False. Go to Configuration > Fulfillment > General > Other Settings and search for the Parameter Key: ignore_lender_due_date. Set the Parameter Value to False and Save the settings. 

Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Partners - Community Tab

This is one of the few parts of configuration you will need to do as new libraries join the US Hybrid Pod. New members can be added after the second Monday of each month. An I-SPIE blog post and notice on the US Hybrid Pod listserv will be published to alert you of all new members. 

To add your new hybrid pod partners go to Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Partners - Community Tab. Search for the partner you want to add, select it by clicking the checkbox, and click Copy. This will add them to your list of partners. Unlike manually adding the partner, the Locate Profile for the partner will also be imported. 
 

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Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Partners

While the new partners have settings imported from the partner libraries, they do not have settings concerning your library. For the new partners to automatically follow the intended pod workflows they need the Workflow Profiles you created earlier added to the partner settings. Go to Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Partners and edit the Partners you imported with the following settings on the General Information tab:

• Supports Borrowing: (Checked)
• Supports Lending: (Checked)
• Borrowing Workflow: US Hybrid Pod Borrowing
• Lending Workflow: US Hybrid Pod Lending

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Now move on to the Parameters tab and add the following settings:

• Request Expiry: Expiry Time
• Expiry Time (Days): 4

Save the edited Partner settings. 

Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Locate Profiles

Go through all of the locate profiles created by the previous step.  Add the port as 80, and depending on discussions prior to creating and distributing the Rota, check the box next to Ignore Electronic and Digital Resources and adjust the Locate Only If selections. The sections should have the following checked: 

• ISBN/ISSN
• System Control Number
• Title

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Click Test Connection at the bottom left and wait for the Connection Succeeded notice to pop up in the top right corner.

Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Rota Assignment Rules

Alma uses Rotas as the term for groups of libraries with shared policies in Resource Sharing. For Alma libraries this is essentially the US Hybrid Rota, so you will want to make a Rota for all the partners you created. Go to Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Rota Assignment Rules and select +Add Rota. Add the following pieces of information:

• Code: USHybrid
• Name: US Hybrid Pod
• Type: Non Ordered
• Status: Active

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Click Save and Add Members to move on to the next screen. On the resulting screen click +Add Partners and search each partner you added earlier and click Add Partner. Once you are done select Save and Add Members. 

When new members join the pod you will need to edit and add them to the Rota. 

Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Rota Assignment Rules

After creating a Rota you will need a Rota Assignment Rule to assign requests to the Rota. Go to Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Rota Assignment Rules and select +Add Rule. Create a rule with the following:

Rota Assignment Rules: 

• Name: US Hybrid Pod
• Description: Rule assigning requests to the US Hybrid Pod

Input Parameters:

Input Parameters:

• Rota Templates: USHybrid

Save the rule. 

Configuration > Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Sending Borrowing Request Rules

Similar to the Rota Assignment Rules, create a new rule for the US Hybrid Pod, adding all of the Partners and selecting True in the Send Request field. Click Save.