Borrowing Mediation Rules

Borrowing Mediation Rules are rules you can make in Rapido to automate certain processes or pause a request for mediation. These rules are very useful for keeping your Borrowing requests organized and moving along smoothly. Clarivate has routinely updated the options available for Borrowing Mediation Rules so it is encouraged for staff to try out new rules to see if they can tweak their workflows to be clearer and more efficient. Below are explanations of the parts of a Borrowing Mediation Rule as well as a list of recommended rules. 

To configure Borrowing Mediation Rules, go to Alma Configuration > Resource Sharing > Rapido Rules > Borrowing Mediation Rules. Once in the Borrowing Mediation Rules List, click +Add Rule to add a new rule. 

Input Parameters

The Input Parameters in a Borrowing Mediation Rule determine the circumstances that trigger a rule. Any request meeting the parameters you set forth will have the Output Parameters you set up automatically enacted. You can add multiple Input Parameters to make complex rules to streamline your workflows. To add an Input Parameter click +Add Parameter. 

Most updates to the Borrowing Mediation Rules in Rapido have been to add more parameters, so the list of actions is fairly long, but the process of setting them up remains fairly simple. With all rules you will select a Name, Operator, and Value to describe the action triggering the rule. 

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Name

The Name parameter is the main list of actions like Requested Format, Supplying Pod, or Missing Article Metadata Fields. These parameters are often self explanatory and the list of options continues to grow, so it is a good idea to occasionally look at your options to see if you want to make a new rule to try out. For example, the Requested Format parameter is referencing the Format (either physical or digital) the patron is requesting when they place a Borrowing request. 

Operator

The Operator parameter determines how the Name and Value parameters will interact. The following are the most commonly used Operators:

• =: This is used when the rule needs to meet exactly one condition. For example, a rule that stops all physical requests for mediation would be Requested Format = Physical.
• In List: The rule will activate if any of a list of variables is met, like an OR statement. For example, a rule where the request is stopped for mediation if the request is missing an ISSN, volume, or title would be Missing Article Metadata Fields In List ISSN, Volume, Title.
• All In List: The rule activates if all the variables are met, like an AND statement. For example, a rule where the request is stopped for mediation only if the request is missing an ISSN, volume, and title would be Missing Article Metadata Fields All In List ISSN, Volume, Title. All three variables must be missing for the rule to activate.
• NotInList: The opposite of In List. This rule will activate at all times unless variables in a list are met. For example, stop all requests for mediation except ones from the California State Network or US West pod would be Supplying Pod NotInList California State Network, US West.
• Is Empty: This Operator is used to mediate a request when there is nothing in a field. For example, to stop all requests without a label add a rule like Labels Is Empty.
• Is Not Empty: The opposite of Is Empty. This would stop requests as long as a variable is present. For example, to stop all requests with a label make a rule like Labels Is Not Empty. 

The most commonly used Operators are In List and Not In List. 

Value

The value is the variable you want the rule to trigger with. Depending on the Name the list of Values changes greatly. For example, the available Values when you select Supplying Pod in the Name field are all the pods you subscribe to, while the Values when the Name is Labels are all your available labels. 

Escape Parameter

There is a special set of Input Parameters that should be included in almost all Borrowing Mediation Rules: the Escape Parameter. This is a Label you designate to override the rule and let a request process when it would normally be stopped for mediation. For example, Say you have a rule to stop all requests missing an ISBN, but a patron requested an old thesis that does not have an ISBN. You will add the Escape Parameter Label to make the request not trigger the rule, even when there is no ISBN. 

The Escape Parameter is:

• Labels, NotInList, (Label)

Most campuses use a label called Approved or Staff_Approved as the Escape Parameter. 

The Output Parameters are the results of the rule. There are two types of Output Parameters: Labels and Actions. 

Labels

The Labels parameter is simply the label you want added to any request triggering the rule. These make it easy to instantly see why a request was stopped so staff know what they need to do to fix the request so it will process. You can add anything as a label, but if you want a label with multiple words you will need to use underscores (_) instead of spaces. Common labels include: Approved, Document Delivery, Missing_ISSN, and Missing_Volume. 

Action

The Action parameter is what you want the rule to do when triggered. There are four Actions, though at first glance it looks like there are only three. 

• (Blank): The Action represented by a blank, empty, Action field is the most commonly used Action. A Blank Action stops the request from automatically processing so staff can fix it in some way. It essentially stops it for mediation.
• Cancel Request: A mediation rule with the Cancel Request Action will cancel the request when the rule is triggered. If you select this Action you can add a message to be added as a note in the cancellation notice. This is helpful if you find you consistently cancel requests meeting certain criteria.
• Test Locally: The Test Locally Action lets a request act like it is being processed without actually sending it out to another library, to a patron, etc. Sometimes useful for testing.
• Fill Locally: This Action adds your own institution as the Lending library so you can fill the request locally. Requests impacted by this Action should be handled in Lending and not in the Borrowing side of Rapido. 

Now that you understand how to make Borrowing Mediation Rules you may want some rules to make. The following page shows the recommended rules used in the CSU.