Putting the User Before the System in Resource Sharing: Considering System-Wide Consortial Options in Alma

Abstract

Resource sharing, peer to peer, fulfillment network, walk-in borrowing...the options available seem daunting and complicated in an already complex system. Although all Alma resource sharing options have great features, the application of this functionality often requires a less than optimal user experience, or a major shift in circulation policies at libraries. After testing some of the options during an initial vanguard phase, the State University of New York, comprised of 64 institutions ultimately chose the peer to peer resource sharing with walk-in borrowing. Our testing has focused on both the resource sharing user experience through Primo and the staff experience through Alma. After the test load environment was delivered, configuration began immediately to test and document workflows among a small cohort of institutions and additional institutions were added over time. All institutions will be up and running with Alma by July 2019. Our goal was multi-faceted with a positive user experience the top priority. On the staff side, we aimed for a tighter integration between ILLiad and Alma for fines, checkouts, and requests for libraries with ILLiad. For the remaining libraries, the ability to manage the majority of their circulation and requests in one system was appealing.