Koha

Koha is the world's first free and open-source integrated library system (ILS), originally developed in New Zealand in 1999. Named after a Māori word meaning "gift" or "contribution," Koha has grown into a mature, enterprise-class library management system used by thousands of libraries worldwide.

Key Features

• Comprehensive Cataloging:

  • Full MARC21 and UNIMARC support
  • Authority record management
  • Z39.50/SRU client for record importing
  • Batch import and export capabilities
  • Duplicate detection and merging
  • Fast cataloging workflows

• Circulation Management:

  • Patron registration and management
  • Check-out and check-in operations
  • Holds and reserves system
  • Fine and fee management
  • Renewal notifications
  • Offline circulation for network outages

• Acquisitions System:

  • Purchase order creation and management
  • Vendor and supplier management
  • Budget allocation and tracking
  • Receiving and invoice processing
  • Claiming and order tracking
  • EDI integration capabilities

• Serials Management:

  • Subscription management
  • Issue prediction and tracking
  • Claiming for missing issues
  • Routing lists for periodicals
  • Binding and preservation tracking
  • Subscription renewal management

• Public Access Catalog (OPAC):

  • Modern, responsive web interface
  • Advanced search capabilities
  • Patron self-service features
  • Social features (reviews, tags, lists)
  • Multi-language support
  • Mobile-optimized interface

• Reporting & Analytics:

  • Built-in guided report wizard
  • Custom SQL report creation
  • Statistical reports and dashboards
  • Circulation and collection statistics
  • Patron activity reports
  • Automated report scheduling

• Administrative Tools:

  • Multi-branch/multi-library support
  • Granular user permissions
  • System preference management
  • News and announcement system
  • Holiday and calendar management
  • Label and barcode printing

• Integration & Standards:

  • REST API for third-party integrations
  • SIP2 protocol support
  • LDAP authentication
  • Single sign-on (SSO) capabilities
  • Standard library protocols
  • Plugin architecture for extensions

Technical Specifications

• Backend: Perl with Template Toolkit
• Database: MySQL or MariaDB
• Web Server: Apache HTTP Server
• Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Bootstrap
• Operating System: Linux, Unix-like systems
• Standards: MARC21, UNIMARC, Z39.50, SRU, SIP2, OAI-PMH