Library management systems help libraries keep track of their documents inventory and loans, and member subscriptions and profiles, sometimes for multiple physical locations. Libraries rely on library management systems to manage asset collections as well as relationships with their members. This type of software solution can be used by educational institutions’ libraries, as well as public or private libraries. Library patrons use library management systems to find, reserve, and loan documents while library staffs employ it to manage the acquisition, cataloging, and inventory of documents.
Library management systems usually integrate with digital information repositories to allow access to electronic resources. Library management systems also needs to integrate with accounting solutions to manage payments and other financial transactions.
To qualify for inclusion in the Library Management Systems category, a product must:
- Include a database that can be used to store and manage information on different types of content assets (books, magazines, movies, music records, and more) in different formats (print, electronic, video, etc.)
- Manage patron and member information including profiles, present and past loans, payments, and penalties
- Allow users to find information from public sources like OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) or WorldCat
- Manage asset inventory and loans across multiple physical locations
- Provide statistics on loans, inventory, late returns, or lost documents
