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Alma Fulfillment Resource Guide

This guide covers all aspects of the fulfillment process. This includes maintaining all patron records, loaning materials, returning/renewing loaned materials, managing lost items dealing with fines and fees as well as course reserves.

Setting up Patron Photos

Patron Photo Files

Patron Photos of students, faculty, and staff can uploaded into Alma so that they will show when a patron record is displayed in the system. Below are instructions on how institutions that currently use this service in Aleph can configure Alma to do the same.

Instructions

Patron photos for patron records cannot be added as part of the patron load. They must be loaded separately

  1. Each patron photo file must be given a filename which matches the patron identifier. See the specifications listed below.
  2. To start the process, please submit a case to the FLVC Helpdesk. This can be done by sending an email to help@flvc.org requesting this service. FLVC will provide you with a secure username/password and location for you to upload the file of images.
  3. After a full file of patron photos has been processed, the institution has the option of sending delta files on an ongoing basis. The files will be automatically processed by the system if the filename convention is followed.

 

Photo Specifications and Workflow:

Assemble the images

  • Available formats include: .jpg, .jpeg, .gif, .bmp, .jif
  • All files need to share the same extension
  • Each patron photo should be saved as a separate file.
  • The filename should match the patron ID, in the format XXXXXX.jpg.
  • Zip all pics into one zip file using the following naming convention: patronpics_{institution code}_{dev|test|prod}_{sequence}_{date}.zip
    example: patronpics_ssc_prod_1_20210601.zip

Upload Zipped File

  • Send zipped file to https://securefiles.flvc.org. An account is needed to log in.
  • If you need an account, contact the FLVC Help Desk at help@flvc.org.

An automated process will move the zip file to the Alma apps server and load the files. This process is run daily during the week at 7am. Once this process runs, the photos should appear in User Details display in Alma.