Hack your Reading Room: Integrating Special Collections Request and Circulation Workflows into the Alma Library Services Platform.

Abstract

Opportunities exist to adapt Ex Libris’ Alma functionality to the unique needs of special collections reading room management. This seminar details and demonstrates how we have incorporated our special collections request and circulation workflows into Alma's existing functionality, which has led to improved workflows, better inventory tracking, more consistent and transparent reading room operations, and richer data on collections use. If you are looking for a new way to manage patron requests and circulation and you don’t have the resources for additional software platforms–this seminar is for you. Although the practical takeaways are specific to Alma institutions, this session offers a framework for thinking about and planning the use of any ILS to support special collections’ circulation.