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OCLC Support

Renewals (with Alma and NCIP)

Learn how to process renewals in Relais ILL.

Overview

If your library uses Alma and is using NCIP for interoperability between Relais and Alma then it is also possible to use the following workflows to process renewals.

  • For requests initiated by your patrons, and an item supplied from another library is loaned to your patron, the patron can request a renewal through Primo. The renewal is then passed through to Relais for processing by staff.
  • For requests from other libraries and a loan supplied, if the library requests a renewal, the renewal can be checked automatically against Alma.

 Note: Please also refer to the following information from ExLibris when setting up and using this feature: Ex Libris Recall/Renew.

As the requesting library

Requesting library Supplying library
Actions in Relais Actions in Primo/Alma  
A patron from your library submits a request which is then sent to another library to be filled, when the item is received staff update the request in Relais as a loan to your patron.  With NCIP in use the patron can checkout the item and see the loan in Primo.

See Loan an item for more information on this process.
   
  The patron asks for a renewal of the item currently on loan.  
  Alma sends a RenewItem message to Relais.  
Relais sends a RenewItem response to Alma acknowledging the message.     
Relais sends a a CirculationStatusUpdated message with status = "Renewal Still Pending".

It may be necessary to send a Renew Request message to the supplying library, e.g., via ISO or generic script or 'manually' and await a yes or no response.
   
Staff updates the request as Request for Renewal to send an RenewalRequest (via ISO or generic script)    
    Receives and responds to RenewalRequest.
Relais receives RenewalResponse. If the response is:

Yes, then staff update the request to Renewed and set the new due date.   Relais sends an NCIP RenewItem message to Alma (which includes the new due date).

No, then staff update the request to Renewal Refused.  Relais sends an NCIP CirculationStatusUpdated message to Alma with status = "Item Not Renewed".
   

As the supplying library

Supplying library Requesting library
Actions in Relais Actions in Primo/Alma  
Relais receives a request from another library. The request is updated in Relais as a loan.

See Loan an item for more information on this process.
   
    Sends a request for renewal. 
Staff opens the request (via Review Alerts or Query), then opens Loan Tracking and selects Renew, specifying a new due date.    
Relais sends an NCIP RenewItem message to Alma.    
  Alma responds with an NCIP RenewItem response indicating whether or not the renewal is allowed.

If the renewal is not allowed, the response includes a ProblemElement and ProblemValue explaining why the loan cannot be renewed.
 
If the renewal is allowed, Relais sends a Renew Response = Yes to the supplying library.

If the renewal is not allowed, Relais sends a Renew Response = No to the supplying library.
   

Configuration and set up for using Renewals with Alma NCIP

Turn on RenewItem

This assumes NCIP is already configured for use

  1. Login to Library Registration.
  2. Retrieve your home library record.
  3. Click Contact to display Relais – Contact Information.
  4. Click Configure NCIP Server to display Relais – NCIP Server Connection Information, under Active Messages select RenewItem.