Alma Anonymization: Fulfillment Display Changes

After CARLI enables Alma Anonymization of User Fulfillment Data for all I-Share libraries on July 29, 2024, library staff working in Alma will no longer see all of the historical fulfillment data on a user's account. See the following "before" and "after" screenshots for specific examples.

Item History

In the “before anonymization” screenshot (above) of an item’s history, you see the borrower name and ID. However, once the loan is discharged, it’s not visible in the user’s record anymore. Information for the "item changes" radio button will not change with anonymization because it does not display user information.

In the “after anonymization” screenshot (above) of the same item’s history, the borrower name and ID are blank. When any of these records is anonymized, the link between the relevant record and the borrowing patron is permanently removed from the system. It is not restorable in any way. Consequently, any interface that shows information about the loan borrower will have no history information to display.

"In House Use" Items

Items that had “in house use” will not have a borrower associated with it, so the borrower will be blank there as well. Anonymization will not affect these transactions because they were not associated with a borrower.

Fine Transactions

In the screenshot above, an old fines transaction is visible.

In the “after” screen capture, the fine is not visible. When a fine/fee record is anonymized, the link between the loan record and the patron is permanently removed from the system—that is, it is not restorable in any way. Consequently, any interface that shows information about the patron owing the fine/fee has no history information to display.

Local Requests

In the screenshot (above) of a local request before anonymization, the borrower name and ID are visible.

In the screenshot of the same transaction after anonymization, the borrower name and ID are blank.

Borrowing Requests (I-Share)

In this “before” screenshot of I-Share requests in the Borrowing Requests list, you can see the requester for both these transactions.

In the "after" screenshot, you can see that the requester for “Doing it” is now gone. The borrower for “Poorcraft” is still there because that transaction is not yet complete, while the first one is complete because it was canceled.

Item History (I-Share Request)

The screenshot above shows an I-Share request before anonymization in the history for an item. Note that the borrower name and ID are visible.

After anonymization, the borrower name and ID aren’t visible.

Letters

Letters are attached to the patron’s account and can be viewed within the Attachments tab. They are retained for 60 days, and are not affected by anonymization.

If you have any questions, please contact CARLI Support.