Blank Resource Sharing Request Form

Your resource sharing request form is integrated into PrimoVE and is configured to appear when a resource is NOT available at your library. However, what if a patron wants to request something that they can’t find in Omni? That’s where the Blank Resource Sharing Request Form comes in! It authenticates patrons to ensure that they are in a patron group which is permitted to place resource sharing requests. You can also configure the Blank Resource Sharing Request form to include a DOI and/or PMID autofill tool to make it even more user friendly.

How it Works

• About 15 minutes of configuration to complete the config for the Alma Resource Sharing Blank Request Form (ARS BRF)
• Modify all of the links on your website and Omni which point to RACER to point now point to the ARS BRF
• The ARS BRF is the exact same as the Resource Sharing Form that is displayed within Omni when a physical item is not available at your institution. Any customizations you’ve done to the resource sharing form will appear in the ARS BRF as well. Any limitations you’ve already done on your Omni Resource Sharing form (only current students, staff, faculty), copyright configuration…already apply (this is the same form… in Omni it’s just pre-filled, and the BRF is just…blank
• Users click on a link to the ARS BRF and they’re prompted to authenticate to Omni
• When they authenticate to Omni, if they’re in our pre-defined patron groups for which we’ve made RESOURCE SHARING available (students, staff, faculty), then they’ll be presented with a blank resource sharing request form (the ARS BRF)
• Part of the configuration recommended for the ARS BRF is enabling the DOI autofill and the PMID autofill

• These two options appear on the ARTICLE citation type
• If a user has a DOI or a PMID, they can scroll down to these options, plunk the DOI or PMID into the appropriate field, and click AUTO FILL, the BRF will then be, you guessed it, auto filled with the citation information related to the PMID or DOI entered
• Remember that the ARS BRF is the same form that is embedded into Omni… so this also means that when completing the ARS BRF, patrons are presented with the option to choose a different pickup institution/location, however, if the ARS is filled out requesting a PHYSICAL copy, or the lender decides to fulfil the request with a PHYSICAL item, these items will NOT be eligible for pickup anywhere and will default back to the patron’s home pickup location.

• Requests submitted via the ARS BRF utilize the exact same rotas we already have configured. If you haven’t modified what we’ve pushed out via the network zone, then the following is true (you can verify this configuration for your institution by visiting Alma > Configuration > FULFILLMENT > Resource Sharing > Rota Assignment Rules; the order of these rules is VERY important):
  • If the patron selects FORMAT: PHYSICAL
    • The request will go through the AFN partners first (Omni schools), if not found then
    • The request will go through U of T, if not found then
    • The request will go through the CANADA EAST rota (currently consists of 4 MUN libraries), if not found then
    • The request will go through the CANADA WEST rota (currently consists of U of Calgary), if not found then
    • LOCATE FAILED
  • If the patron selects FORMAT: DIGITAL
    • If you’re a RapidILL school, the request will go to RapidILL… if not found (or you don’t have RapidILL) then:
    • The request will go through the Omni ISO partners (Omni partners only), and if not found
    • The request will go through U of T, if not found
    • The request will go through the CANADA EAST rota (currently consists of 4 MUN libraries), if not found then
    • The request will go through the CANADA WEST rota (currently consists of U of Calgary), if not found then
    • LOCATE FAILED
  • Regardless of which FORMAT the patron requests, all requests will be visible in the “BORROWING REQUESTS” queue in Alma that your staff are already familiar with
  • REMEMBER: for physical requests, we send our preferred terms along with the request we send, however, the lending institution decides the final terms of the loan. These loan terms will be applied automatically (although can be overridden) when the item is checked out to the patron. The loan operates with the same functionality of any other loan in Omni (email notices when the item is coming due, email notices if the item is recalled by the lending library, if renewals are permitted, the patron will be able to renew the item…)

Blank Resource Sharing Request Form documentation from Ex Libris

Working with your Blank Request Form