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If resource sharing requests increase, there may be an impact on the cost of shipping items. In addition, more staff time may be required to fulfill borrowing and lending requests if there is a higher volume of requests across the system as a result of resource sharing in Alma.

Note that every institution has the option to deny any request or opt out of resource sharing at any point. This is true with both the P2P and FN model.

There is no change to the Alma Software as a Service Subscription Agreement if colleges choose to implement resource sharing using the Peer-to-Peer or the Fulfillment Network models. Colleges may wish to implement additional software in the future that would incur additional costs, but the two models under consideration at this stage do not change the current subscription fee.

It is possible that resource sharing requests will become more frequent with both models, P2P and FN. OCUL saw a marked increase in resource sharing requests when they implemented an Automated Fulfillment Network. They also found that individual collections with low circulation were used more frequently once other institutions were able to borrow materials more easily.

• Don't Call It A Comeback: OLA RS Presentation: https://clo-collaboration-spaces.atlassian.net/wiki/x/IoD1R

There are multiple options for handling the cost of shipping. Many variations were seen among other consortia interviewed for this project. Some have a pool of money that everyone contributes to and can then make use of for shipping fees. One example of this is PASCAL. In other cases such as ILLNET, grant money is used to pay for the cost of shipping. Others agree that the library doing the shipping pays, so the lending library pays to ship it one way and the borrowing library pays to ship it back. Others agree that the borrowing library pays for both sending and returning.

The Ontario colleges that agree to participate in consortial resource sharing supported by Alma will need to decide on how shipping will be handled. Once we decide on a model for resource sharing, we will move on to working out the details of handling shipping fees.

The cost of shipping does not change based on which resource sharing model in Alma (P2P or FN) is selected.

P2P

It is relatively simple to apply Alma configuration changes in support of a P2P model. Each participating institution will be provided with a brief set of instructions for making any necessary changes in Alma. It is expected this process will take one staff member with Alma training no more than a day.

It may take additional time for individual institutions to update internal ILL practices if local workflows need to be changed as a result of Alma. The P2P model is similar enough to current ILL practices that the RSWG does not anticipate a major time commitment for updating local workflows.

Fulfillment Network

The Fulfillment Network configuration settings are more complicated and will take more time for staff members to apply in Alma. It will also take additional time to prepare local training documentation and ready front-line staff for resource sharing in a Fulfillment Network.

Due to the complexities of a Fulfillment Network, it is expected that the implementation of resource sharing in Alma will be delayed by three to six months if the colleges opt for a Fulfillment Network model.

Big Decisions

It will likely take time for the colleges to agree on key decisions such as shipping fees, lending policies and fees/fines. It is difficult to determine exactly how much individual staff time will be required to make these decisions. This time will be needed regardless of the resource sharing model selected.

P2P Workflow (Example of tasks with time requirements example) 

https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Resource_Sharing/C_Peer-to-Peer_Resource_Sharing/03_End-to-End_Staff_Workflows_in_Peer-to-Peer_Resource_Sharing#

1. Borrowing institution automatically locates best potential supplier though configured rota in Alma.​ 

• Patron puts in a request from Primo VE. 

2. A request is sent to the lending institution from the borrowing institution in Alma.  

• ​Request arrives to Tasks Widget. 0.5 seconds 

• Staff can reject or fill requests.  

To fulfill request: 

• Print out request slips. 1 minute 

• Locate and pull the item. It will take 1-10 minutes, depending on the number of items and the size of the library/where the item is located. 

• Scan in item. 1-3 minutes, depending on the number of items. 

• Print transit slip. 1 minute 

NOTE: The finding and pulling of items are the most time-consuming part in this step.  

As an example, we ran a regular hold from start to finish to see how long the process would take a staff member. The results came back as needing 5 minutes from the moment the hold comes into Alma to the staff member placing it on the hold shelf/moving onto step 3.  

3. The lending institution ships the item to the borrowing institution.  

• ​Staff need to package items for shipping. 5-10 minutes 

  • Example: print labels, find box/envelope, safely package item, bring to shipping & receiving department. 

 NOTE: Depending on each institution, this may be a daily prosses or multiple times a day, etc. 

4. The borrowing institution receives the item from the lending institution. ​ 

• Staff receive items from the lending institution. (roughly 3 – 5 days for shipping but can be shorter/longer depending on location and delivery method) 

5. The borrowing institution manages a standard loan lifecycle with the patron.​ 

• Staff scan items in.  10 seconds per item 

• Fulfillment -> Resource Sharing -> Receiving Items 

• Print out hold slip and place on hold shelf. 2-5 minutes, depending on where the hold shelf is located 

6. The lending institution holds the borrowing institution responsible for the loaned resource. ​ 

• Item is signed out. 1 minute 

• Item is requested to be renewed by patron. Patron can renew in Primo or the borrowing library can contact the lending library for a possible renewal. 5-7 minutes/email 

7. When the patron returns item, home institution sends it back to lending institution. ​ 

• Item is returned to home institution and scanned in. 10 seconds per item 

  • Fulfillment -> Checkout/Checkin -> Return Items 

To return the item to lending institution: 

• Print out transit slips. 1 minute 

• Staff need to package items for shipping. 5-10 minutes 

  • Example: print labels, find box/envelope, safely package item, bring to shipping & receiving department. 

NOTE: Depending on each institution, this may be a daily prosses or multiple times a day, etc. 

Fulfillment Network Workflow (Example of tasks with time requirements example) 

https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Training/Resource_Sharing/D_Fulfillment_Networks_Resource_Sharing/04_End-to-End_Staff_Workflows_for_Direct_Patron_Requests

1. Alma automatically sends patron data to the lending institution where the patron is created as a new user in the lending institution’s Alma.  

• Patron puts in request from Primo VE. 

2. The lending institution directly manages all aspects of the loan cycle, including overdue, lost, renew, fines, and so on.  

• Request arrives to Tasks Widget. 0.5 seconds 

• Staff can reject or fill requests.  

To fulfill request: 

• Print out request slips. 1 minute 

• Locate and pull item. 1-10 minutes depending on number of items and size of library/where item is located. 

• Scan in item. 1-3 minutes depending on the number of items. 

• Print transit slip. 1 minute 

• Staff need to package items for shipping. 5-10 minutes 

  • Example: print labels, find box/envelope, safely package item, bring to shipping & receiving department. 

NOTE: Depending on each institution, this may be a daily prosses or multiple times a day, etc. 

3. The patron’s pickup institution receives the item from the lending institution. ​ 

• Staff receive items from the lending institution. (roughly 3 – 5 days for shipping but can be shorter/longer depending on location and delivery method) 

• Staff scan in Alma making sure to select the appropriate institution that the item belongs to. 30 seconds/ item 

• Print out hold slip and place on hold shelf. 2-5 minutes depending on where hold shelf is located 

4. The patron returns the item to the lending institution directly, or via any institution in the fulfillment network. 

If dropped off at patron’s pickup institution:  

• Scan in the item, indicating to Alma that the item isn’t from their institution. 30 seconds/ item  

  • Fulfillment -> Checkout/Checkin -> Return Items 

Then Alma will let the operator know where the item needs to go, and the process just repeats itself, but in reverse. 

• Item is returned to home institution and scanned in. 10 seconds per item 

  • Fulfillment -> Checkout/Checkin -> Return Items 

To return item to lending institution: 

• Print out transit slips. 1 minute 

• Staff need to package items for shipping.5-10 minutes 

  • Example: print labels, find box/envelope, safely package item, bring to shipping & receiving department. 

• NOTE: Depending on each institution, this may be a daily prosses or multiple times a day, etc. 

The RSWG expects the same amount of staff time will be needed to complete an individual resource sharing request using the P2P model in Alma as is needed to fulfill a traditional ILL request now. It is expected that less staff time will be required to complete resource sharing requests using a Fulfillment Network model.

There may be added demand on staff time if the frequency of requests increases do to the ease of access. Note that every institution has the option to deny any request or opt out of resource sharing at any point. This is true with both the P2P and FN model.