K-Int Labs

openrs-dcb

Alma and FOLIO resource sharing: see the library staff workflow

  • openrs
  • resource-sharing
  • dcb
  • alma
  • folio
  • interoperability

What does resource sharing between an Alma library and a FOLIO library look like for the people using it?

Casey Henderson and Richard Mann’s interactive OpenRS walkthrough follows an Alma patron borrowing an item supplied by a FOLIO library. It makes the connection visible through familiar activities: finding a book, placing a request and checking in the copy that will travel to the borrower.

Try the Alma-to-FOLIO demonstration

Open the step-by-step resource-sharing demo. It is an interactive walkthrough: follow the highlighted prompts to move between the screens.

The requesting and dispatch stages show:

  1. Find and request the book. The patron searches the OpenRS catalogue and places a borrowing request.
  2. Choose where to collect it. This demonstration has “Pickup Anywhere” enabled, allowing a choice among participating pickup locations.
  3. See the request locally. The patron can also see the request in their library’s Primo discovery account.
  4. Track the connection. Central-office staff can inspect the request in DCB Admin, including its placement at the participating libraries.
  5. Send the copy on its way. The supplying librarian checks the item in through FOLIO. The walkthrough explains how this tells OpenRS the item is in transit and updates the other system.
FOLIO Check in showing an In transit confirmation, with a purple walkthrough annotation explaining that the item is now in transit.
Casey Henderson and Richard Mann’s Storylane demonstration, captured 7 November 2026. This is a recorded demonstration environment, showing the FOLIO supplier’s transit confirmation.

Where OpenRS DCB fits

OpenRS Direct Consortial Borrowing coordinates borrowing and lending across participating libraries. In this example, the patron’s library uses Alma and the supplier uses FOLIO. Routine supplier work takes place in FOLIO’s circulation interface; DCB coordinates the request between systems.

This is a DCB walkthrough. It does not demonstrate an ISO 18626 message exchange. Interlibrary loan (ILL) messaging and tightly coordinated circulation serve different needs; our ORS-Appliance explainer discusses how those approaches connect.

For the companion Koha borrower / Alma supplier demo, see our introduction to Casey and Richard’s walkthroughs. More background is collected in our OpenRS resource-sharing guide.

Interested in connecting your libraries? Explore OpenRS or contact the OpenRS community.