During the winter holidays, all CSU libraries close, so students, faculty, and staff can enjoy a much needed holiday break. Before we all take our break, there are several things we should do in both Borrowing and Lending to ensure we don’t have our patrons requests, and requests from other libraries, expire or get cancelled.

Borrowing

While the CSU is closed, so are most other libraries in the United States. Since all the libraries are closed, most Rapido requests will go straight to trying to go to ILLiad or WorldShare as the partner of last resort. To prevent this, you can set a Borrowing Mediation Rule to stop requests from being sent out until you return from break, a Set to keep track of these requests, and Labels in Primo to alert patrons of delays.

Borrowing Mediation Rule

A simple Borrowing Mediation Rule will stop the requests from automatically processing. To make the rule go to Alma Configuration → Resource Sharing → Rapido Rules → Borrowing Mediation Rules and select +Add Rule. Fill out the following fields to make the rule:

• Name: Holiday Closures

• Description: Stop requests until after the Winter Holidays

• Use the +Add Parameter option to add these Input Parameters to the rule.

In the Output Parameters section, add:

• Labels: Holiday

• Action: -

Since leaving the Action value blank (-) stops requests from processing (I don’t know why its not “stop processing” instead of -), this rule will stop all physical items for mediation. If you also want to stop article requests, do not add the Requested Format part of the rule.

Set

Now that you have a rule with a Label in place you can make a Set to catch all the requests with that Label. Go to Alma → Rapido → Borrowing → All Active Borrowing Requests and add the following facets:

• Include Zero Values: Active

• Labels: Holiday

Click Apply and then Save as a New Set. Fill out the following settings in the pop up for the Set.

• Set Name: Holiday Closures

• Description: Set to catch all Physical Borrowing Requests over the Winter Holidays.

• Group: New

• Private: No

• Permanently Active for All Users:

All requests with the Holiday Label will be stopped to process after the Winter Holidays.

Primo Labels

You might want to let patrons know the requests will be delayed. You can add several Primo Labels to let them know to expect delays. To add Primo Labels, go to Alma Configuration → Discovery → Display Configuration → Labels. Change the drop down to Description and search Rapido Labels. Click the ellipsis and select Edit. Search the following codes and update them:

That should add the message to all physical Rapido tiles. You do not need to use the exact wording above, use whatever Description fits your library’s style.

Return Workflow

Once you return from the holidays you will want to do the following:

• Change the Primo Labels back to normal

• Turn off the Borrowing Mediation Rule

• Process the requests in the Set

To turn off the Borrowing Mediation Rule go to Alma Configuration → Resource Sharing → Rapido Rules → Borrowing Mediation Rules and set the rule to inactive. Once the rule is inactive, you can process the requests. Go to the Holiday Closures Set in Rapido and click the Ellipsis (…) next to each request and select Recalculate Partner. If the rule is inactive, the request will go through as if the request was just placed. Once all the requests are processed, you can deactivate the Set and return to normal workflows.

Lending

Most Resource Sharing staff are familiar with going non-Lending for the holidays, but there were some enhancements to streamline this process so it is worth looking through some directions.

Set Alma to go non-Lending in RapidILL

Previously, staff had to go non-Lending in Rapido and RapidILL separately to block incoming physical (Rapido) and digital (RapidILL) requests. In January 2024, an enhancement made it possible to go non-Lending for both services when you set Rapido to non-Lending. To enable this enhancement, go to Alma Configuration → Fulfillment → General → Other Settings and search for rs_update_rapid_with_lending_offtime and set it to True. Now when you go non-Lending in Rapido, you will also go non-Lending in RapidILL.

Non-Lending Rapido

There are multiple ways to get to the page to set a library to non-Lending. A new, less complicated way of accessing the page is to go to Alma Configuration → Resource Sharing → Configuration → Members and click the ellipsis (…) next to your Resource Sharing Library and select Edit Resource Sharing Library.

Open

On the resulting page scroll down to the Lending Setup, check the box next to Temporarily Inactive For Lending, and add an Inactive Date Range. Lending should resume after the holidays, but it is always a good idea to go back and uncheck Temporarily Inactive For Lending just to be sure.

Non-Lending RapidILL

If you set rs_update_rapid_with_lending_offtime to True you wont need to set RapidILL to non-Lending separately. If you prefer to keep the setting separate go to https://rapid.exlibrisgroup.com/Public/Login and login. Go to Settings → Lending Off Hours and Add New Time. Input the date range you want Lending inactive and click Save.

Return After the Holidays

When you get back from the break simply undo the steps above to resume Lending. You may leave the rs_update_rapid_with_lending_offtime set to True without any issue.