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How to Process Loaned Peer to Peer (P2P) Items

This section covers how to process outgoing P2P lending requests: printing pull slips, retrieving items, and shipping them to the borrowing library. Alma relies on consistent slip printing, item scanning, and shipment processing to maintain the lending side of the Resource Sharing workflow.

Thank you to George Washington University for sharing their workflow processes.

Required Roles
  • Fulfillment Operator
  • Circulation Desk Manager

1: Print Pull Slips for Lending Requests Navigate to Fulfillment > Resource Requests> Pick From Shelf>

  • Verify you are at the correct Circulation Desk location and that Quick Printing, if available, is enabled; Quick Printing functionality provides streamlined print-based workflows

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  • From the top menu ribbon check <Select all> or individual requests; Click <Print Slip>

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2: Retrieve Items from the Shelves Use printed pulling slips to gather items.

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3: Begin the Shipping Workflow Navigate to Fulfillment > Resource Sharing > Shipping Items

4: Configure Quick Printing for Shipping Slips Set Automatically print slip to Yes; Enable Quick Printing.

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5: Prepare Item for Shipping Insert the Resource Sharing Shipping Slip Letter generated by Alma Shipping Slip; Follow yoru library's local workflow for mailing Resource Sharing items 

Frequently Asked Questions 


  • What is the External Identifier and why is it important?

    • It links the borrowing request to the item; Ex Libris defines it as an essential Resource Sharing match point.

  • Why must the item barcode match the paperwork?

    • Alma uses the barcode to create the temporary item record and maintain lending consistency.

  • What happens if I scan the wrong barcode when returning an item?

    • Alma will fail to match the item to the correct P2P request; Rescanning and verifying identifiers can help ensure correct matches

  • Why is Quick Printing recommended?

    • It minimizes misrouting, aligns with Ex Libris slip workflows, and ensures slips print automatically at each step.

  • Do we need to keep both borrowing and lending slips?

    • No. Use only the slips generated during the current Alma workflow step.

  • What if Alma does not generate a slip?

    • Verify Quick Printing is enabled and that a default printer is available. Check Fulfillment > Configuration > Printing>.

  • Can we reuse previous P2P pull slips?

    • Discarding old slips because request data changes after each workflow stage.

  • Why is the Transit Destination message important?

    • It confirms the item has moved to the correct stage in the Resource Sharing lifecycle.


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