# Fulfillment Units and Fulfillment Rules

##### [![FU and policies.jpg](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/fu-and-policies.jpg)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/fu-and-policies.jpg)

In Alma, the **Fulfillment Unit** is the fundamental structural component that governs how items circulate within your institution.

A **Fulfillment Unit** is a logical grouping of one or more **physical locations** within your institution that all share and apply the **same set of circulation policies**.

---

### Core Components and Their Roles

The Fulfillment Unit acts as a container for the following essential components, which work together to process circulation transactions:

<div class="horizontal-scroll-wrapper" id="bkmrk-component-role-in-ci"><div class="table-block-component"><div _ngcontent-ng-c2043905430="" class="table-block has-export-button"><div _ngcontent-ng-c2043905430="" class="table-content not-end-of-paragraph" jslog="275421;track:impression,attention" not-end-of-paragraph=""><table style="width: 100%; height: 320.75px;"><thead><tr style="height: 46.5938px;"><td style="width: 12.0381%; height: 46.5938px;">Component</td><td style="width: 26.2206%; height: 46.5938px;">Where to find/configure in Alma</td><td style="width: 19.429%; height: 46.5938px;">Role in Circulation</td><td style="width: 42.3123%; height: 46.5938px;">Key Details</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr style="height: 96.9844px;"><td style="width: 12.0381%; height: 96.9844px;">[**Physical Locations**](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/fulfillment-units-and-fulfillment-rules#bkmrk-fulfillment-unit-loc)</td><td style="width: 26.2206%; height: 96.9844px;">Configuration &gt; Fulfillment &gt; Locations &gt; Physical Locations \*only found when configuring a specific library in your institution)</td><td style="width: 19.429%; height: 96.9844px;">Defines *where* an item is physically held.</td><td style="width: 42.3123%; height: 96.9844px;">Each location is linked to a specific library within your institution and is the base for assigning policies. All locations within the same Fulfillment Unit share the same set of rules.</td></tr><tr style="height: 96.9844px;"><td style="width: 12.0381%; height: 96.9844px;">[**Fulfillment Unit Rules**](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/fulfillment-units-and-fulfillment-rules#bkmrk-fulfillment-unit-rul)</td><td style="width: 26.2206%; height: 96.9844px;">Configuration &gt; Fulfillment &gt; Physical Fulfillment &gt; Fulfillment Units</td><td style="width: 19.429%; height: 96.9844px;">Determines *when* and *which* policy is applied to an item.</td><td style="width: 42.3123%; height: 96.9844px;">Rules evaluate a transaction against specific criteria (parameters) to select the correct TOU. Rules can use criteria based on both the **Patron** (e.g., user group, job category) and the **Item** (e.g., location, item policy, material type).</td></tr><tr style="height: 80.1875px;"><td style="width: 12.0381%; height: 80.1875px;">[**Terms of Use (TOU)**](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/fulfillment-units-and-fulfillment-rules#bkmrk-fulfillment-unit-rul)</td><td style="width: 26.2206%; height: 80.1875px;">Configuration &gt; Fulfillment &gt; Physical Fulfillment &gt; Terms of Use and Policies</td><td style="width: 19.429%; height: 80.1875px;">Defines the *what*—the specific circulation policies and parameters.</td><td style="width: 42.3123%; height: 80.1875px;">A group of fulfillment policies organized by **type** (e.g., Loan, Request, Booking, Resource Sharing). **Crucially, each Fulfillment Rule points to exactly one TOU.**</td></tr></tbody></table>

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### Network Fulfillment Units (Consortial Environments)

In a consortial (shared) environment utilizing the Alma Network Zone (NZ), a **Network Fulfillment Unit** is used to manage circulation policies that apply across multiple institutions, such as consortial loan (CLS/AFN) transactions.

- **Function:** It is possible for an **Institution-only Fulfillment Unit** to incorporate rules from a **Network Fulfillment Unit** (like the 'WRLC Fulfillment Network'). This allows for centralized management of shared policies.
- **Example:** In your consortium, the 'WRLC Fulfillment Network' is the single NZ fulfillment unit containing all rules specific to CLS/AFN transactions.

[![Screenshot 2025-10-10 145712.png](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/screenshot-2025-10-10-145712.png)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/screenshot-2025-10-10-145712.png)

To configure the use of Network Zone rules in a specific Fulfillment Unit, choose the **WRLC Fulfillment Network** from the drop-down menu in the Fulfillment Unit configuration page, under the option **Use Rules From Network Fulfillment Unit**. Do **not** checkmark 'Use Network Rules First.'

For more information on the rules and TOUs in the WRLC Fulfillment Network fulfillment unit, please see the [Fulfillment Unit](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/afn-network-zone-configurations#bkmrk-fulfillment-unit) section of the [AFN Network Zone Configurations](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/afn-network-zone-configurations) page of the WRLC Alma Wiki.

---

### Configuring a Fulfillment Unit

Fulfillment Units can be found in **Configuration &gt; Fulfillment &gt; Physical Fulfillment &gt; Fulfillment Units**

[![Screenshot 2025-10-10 141253.png](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/screenshot-2025-10-10-141253.png)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/screenshot-2025-10-10-141253.png)

\*Please note that Fulfillment Units can be configured for entire institutions, or for specific libraries. Changing the Configuring drop-down menu at the top-left corner of the screen will change your results.

#### Creating (Adding) a Fulfillment Unit

1. Go to the **Fulfillment Units List** page.
2. Select **Add Fulfillment Unit**.
3. In the dialog box, enter a **Code** (required, max 10 characters) and a **Name** (required).
4. (Optional) Enter a **Description**.
5. Select an **On shelf request policy** to define how items can be requested when they are available on the shelf (e.g., *Request for pickup anywhere regardless of availability* or *No requesting*).
6. Select **Add Fulfillment Unit** to save the new unit.



#### Fulfillment Unit Details

- On the **Fulfillment Units List** page, select the FU's **Code** or choose **Edit** from its row actions list.
- The **Edit Fulfillment Unit** page appears, defaulting to the **Fulfillment Unit Details** tab.
- In this tab, you can modify the general parameters you set during creation: the Code, Name, Description, and the **On shelf request policy**.
- Save your changes. (Further configuration, such as associating **Locations** or defining **Rules**, is done by selecting the corresponding tabs.)

[![Screenshot 2025-10-14 130422.png](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/screenshot-2025-10-14-130422.png)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/screenshot-2025-10-14-130422.png)



#### Fulfillment Unit Locations

- On the **Edit Fulfillment Unit** page, select the **Fulfillment Unit Locations** tab.
    
    
    - **To Attach Existing Location(s):**
        
        
        - Select **Attach Existing Location**.
        - The **Physical Locations List** page appears. Select the location(s) you want to add, then select **Select**.
        - *Note: A location can only be associated with one Fulfillment Unit.*

*[![Screenshot 2025-10-14 131010.png](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/screenshot-2025-10-14-131010.png)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/screenshot-2025-10-14-131010.png)*

For more information on how to create physical locations, please see the WRLC Alma Wiki page [Physical Locations](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/physical-locations).



#### Fulfillment Unit Rules

**Fulfillment Unit Rules** are the method for attaching **Terms of Use** (TOU) to a Fulfillment Unit (FU). These rules determine which TOU applies to a specific patron service (Loan, Request, or Booking) based on various criteria.

For more information on how to create TOUs, please see the WRLC Alma Wiki page [Terms of Use (TOU)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/terms-of-use-tou).

1. **Access Rules Tab:** Navigate to the **Fulfillment Unit Rules** tab within the "Edit Fulfillment Unit" page.
2. **Select Rule Type:** Choose the type of rule you are configuring: **Booking**, **Loan**, or **Request**.[![Screenshot 2025-10-14 125003.png](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/screenshot-2025-10-14-125003.png)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/screenshot-2025-10-14-125003.png)
3. **Add a New Rule:** Select **Add Rule** to open the **Fulfillment Unit Rules Editor**.
4. **Define Rule Details:** Give the rule a **Name** (required) and an optional **Description**.
5. **Set Input Parameters:** Define the criteria that must be met for the rule to apply by specifying one or more **Input Parameters**. These are the conditional statements that filter which items or users the rule affects.
    
    
    - **Components:** Each parameter is defined by a **Name** (the field to check, e.g., Material Type), an **Operator** (e.g., *equals*), and a **Value** (e.g., *DVD-ROM*).
    - **Possible Parameters** include:
        
        
        - **Material Type**
        - [**Item policy**](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/item-policies)
        - [**User Group**](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/user-groups)
        - **Patron Affiliated Campus**
        - **Process Type**
        - **Location** (circulation desk)
        - **Job category** (user role)
6. **Set [Terms of Use](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/books/fulfillment/page/terms-of-use-tou) (Output Parameter):** The rule's output is the **Terms of Use (TOU)** that will be applied if all the input parameters are met. Select the desired TOU from the **Output Parameters** section.
7. **Save:** Select **Save** to store the new rule.[![Screenshot 2025-10-14 125043.png](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/screenshot-2025-10-14-125043.png)](https://alma-documentation-bookstack.azurewebsites.net/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/screenshot-2025-10-14-125043.png)
8. **Rule Order:** Rules are evaluated from top to bottom. If a rule's input parameters match, its associated **Terms of Use** is applied, and the system stops evaluating subsequent rules. Therefore, specific rules must be placed **before** more general rules. You use the up/down arrows to adjust the order.

For more information on how to configure Fulfillment Units, please see the Alma Knowledgebase page [Configuring Fulfillment Units](https://knowledge.exlibrisgroup.com/Alma/Product_Documentation/010Alma_Online_Help_(English)/030Fulfillment/080Configuring_Fulfillment/020Fulfillment_Infrastructure/Configuring_Physical_Fulfillment#Configuring_Fulfillment_Units).

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### Understanding the Fulfillment Unit Hierarchy

The process of determining the final circulation policy follows a precise hierarchical order, which includes the evaluation of Network rules:

1. **Start with the Location:** When a patron attempts a transaction, Alma first identifies the **Fulfillment Unit** associated with the item’s **Physical Location**.
2. **Determine Transaction Type:** Alma immediately filters the relevant policies based on the type of transaction being performed (e.g., Loan, Request, or Booking). This restricts the evaluation to only the **Fulfillment Rules** associated with that category of **Terms of Use**.
3. **Evaluate Institution Rules:** Alma checks the list of **Fulfillment Rules** configured directly in the **Institution-only Fulfillment Unit**, evaluating them in their configured order.
4. **Evaluate Network Rules:** If no Institution Rule is met, Alma proceeds to evaluate the rules within the **Network Fulfillment Unit** (if one is configured for the Institution's unit). These rules are evaluated in their configured order.
5. **Apply Default Rule:** If no rule in either the Institution or Network unit is met, the system applies the final **Default Rule** at the end of the rule list.
6. **Apply the TOU:** The first **Rule** whose criteria are met (whether Institution, Network, or Default) will be triggered, and its linked **Term of Use (TOU)** will be applied to the transaction (e.g., a 3-week loan).