Home  »  ILMS

Integrated Library Management System (ILMS):

Automation Software used: Koha

Version: 20.11.00.000

Web server Used: Apache/2.4.29 ( Ubuntu)

Operating System Used: Linux

Installation Year:  December, 2020

Start Functioning: December, 2020

Licence Type: Free (Open Source)


KOHA SOFTWARE

KOHA” Integrated Library Management Software

Koha is an integrated library management system. It  was originally developed by Katipo Communications Limited of Wellington in New Zealand with Horowhenua Library Trust (HLT), a regional library system located in Levin near Wellington.  In 1999, Katipo Communication proposed  a new system ,  using open source tools( Perl, MySQL, and Apache)  to be released under Linux and use Telnet to communicate with the branches. It  was  introduce in 3rd  January 2000 and released under the GPL in July 2000. It  is currently being used in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, United States, United Kingdom, India, Thailand, and France.

The major feature of Koha are:

  • General: Free to download, no license fees, web centric,  fast, fully customisable, environment friendly ( one can recycle those old PCs), establishing an international community of users and developers giving libraries the freedom to do it themselves or work directly with the system builders, generating an international spirit of co-operation and collaboration., easy staff training, supports both Windows and Linux platform, uses freeware companions like Apache as web server, MySql as backend BDBMS and PERL as scripting language, supports web OPAC and wed interface for staff, branches access main server via ordinary phone lines and modems, can run on PC grade or server grade hardware;
  • Circulation: Issues ( including rentals), returns, renewals and fines, uses barcode scanners or keyboard; can generate a list of over dues for a phone reminder system;
  • Acquisitions: Real time budget information; Multiple book budgets and suppliers,
  • Catalogue updates fast and slick, support for UNIMARC and MARC 21 ;
  • Searching by keyword, title, author, class number, subject, or combinations and customized search interface to suit need of individual libraries;
  • Memberships: One-stop-shop with all member information on one page;
  • User-driven reservation facility from OPAC interface;
  • OPAC in the library or via the Internet and stock rotation through branch libraries;
  • Work in progress: Z39.50 searching, virtual bookshelves, French and German versions, NCIP self checking, port to other operating systems so that it will run natively, new themes, additional book information( e.g., covers ), web based reports, Mozilla chromed OPAC integrated with Greenstone Digital Library System, Integration with Internet “gateway” system and bill to patron card, printing spine labels;
  • In most cases, Koha users either undertake the development themselves and contribute the changes back to the project, or they commission a developer to undertake specific enhancements;
  • The Koha project uses a number of channels to allow members of its community to communicate with each other – there is a general mailing list as well as separate ones for developers, Windows users, French-speaking Koha users/developers, and German-speaking Koha users/developers. In addition, the developers use Internet Relay Chat (IRC) for real-time scheduled meetings and conversations;
  • Allow multilingual cataloguing and supports Unicode; and
  • Incorporated Functional Requirement for Bibliographic Records(FRBR) partially.

 

 

 

 


Feedback