Legend: NOT STARTED IN PROGRESS STALLED DECIDED
Recommendation
The FG recommends that all UC institutions integrate VDX with Alma using the NCIP 2 Accept Item and Check In Item messages. (Pre-SILS Alma institutions have already implemented these messages.)
We recommend that a single set of instructions be developed and published by the FG to eliminate redundant work.
We recommend that a representative of the SILS cohort negotiate with OCLC on behalf of the institutions to potentially reduce the upfront cost and yearly maintenance fee for the integration.
Because of testing limitations that require transactions with production WSILL, we recommend that NCIP integration be completed immediately post go-live.
Background
NCIP 2 is a standard protocol that enables integration between interlibrary loan systems and ILS circulation systems. VDX and Alma both support this protocol, and integrations have already been implemented at the UC institutions that installed Alma prior to the SILS. The two NCIP messages that have been used in the integration are:
Accept Item, which automatically creates an on-the-fly record in Alma when the borrower receives the item in VDX.
Check In Item, which automatically removes the on-the-fly record from Alma when the item is returned in the VDX.
These integrations have been used in UC for several years, and the FG members agree that the time they save more than justifies the cost of installation and maintenance.
Before the SILS, each institution worked independently with OCLC and Ex Libris to achieve the integration. In the SILS environment, this integration can be solved once, and standard instructions can be made available for configuring NCIP on all remaining IZs.
OCLC charges a one-time installation cost ($2000 at UCD?), as well as a yearly maintenance fee ($400 at UCD?), for each NCIP message.
Action Log
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