Consortium Loan Services (CLS)/ Automated Fulfillment Network (AFN)
The Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) supports resource sharing among its nine member institutions. One essential component of this work is Consortium Loan Services (CLS), which allows libraries to request, lend, and borrow materials from one another.
All WRLC libraries use the Ex Libris Alma Library Management System to manage their collections and fulfillment workflows. Within Alma, all CLS activity is handled through the Alma Fulfillment Network (AFN). The AFN is the technical structure that routes requests, tracks items in transit, and manages the lending and borrowing process.
As you work through this chapter, keep in mind that the terms CLS and AFN refer to the same overall service. CLS describes the consortium-wide loan program, while AFN describes the system functionality that makes it possible. For clarity and consistency, this chapter will use these acronyms interchangeably.
Fulfillment Units and the AFN
In a consortial (shared) environment using an Alma Network Zone (NZ), a Network Fulfillment Unit ...
Consortial Partners in CLS/AFN
Lending and Borrowing Partners These partners are configured in the ROTA for the "Consortium Boo...
AFN Network Zone Configurations
The following Automated Fulfillment Network (AFN) configurations are set in the WRLC Network Zone...
AFN Institution Zone Configurations
The following Automated Fulfillment Network (AFN) configurations are set in each WRLC Institution...
Faculty Due Date Maintenance
Each IZ that participates in consortial lending needs to maintain the fixed due date on their cal...
Linked Patron Accounts
How to update a Linked Patron Account Patron linked accounts can be updated in several ways. ...
Standard Opening Hours
Impact on Due Dates A library's Standard Opening Hours along with other events in their calenda...
Discharging CLS Hold Shelf Items
This workflow explains how to properly discharge CLS (Consortium Library Services) Hold Shelf i...
Expired Hold Shelf Audit Workflow
This workflow is used when auditing items that appear on the Expired Hold Shelf but cannot be p...
Weekly Request Status Exception Report
The Weekly Request Status Exception report reflects requests that have stalled in the rota the pr...
Display Logic Rules for the AFN/CLS Request Form in Primo
The Display Logic Rules configuration page determines when and for whom various Primo links appea...
Resource Sharing Form (Delivery Fields) in Primo
Information about configuring the Delivery Fields section of the Resource Sharing Form in Primo c...
CLS Lost In Transit | Expired Hold Shelf Reconciliation Audit 2026
On an annual basis, WRLC AFN (Alma Fulfillment Network) libraries, that participate in CLS (Conso...