Various softwares are being evaluated for LAP. There are three open source softwares under consideration and a couple of commercial ones. The links to the Open Source softwares are provided here. We are sorry that we cannot provide the list of the commercial softwares being evaluated.

Open Source Software being evaluated

• Koha


• MyLibrary


• OpenBiblio

The criterion of evaluation are listed below. The software should be able to handle at least the functionalities listed here. The list is not comprehensive but gives the volunteers evaluating the softwares a minimum bar to adhere to. Please let us know if more things need to be added to this list.

• Interface for the Librarian
  • Book Keeping:
    • Assign book to user
    • Renew book to user
    • Track/Manage overdue/fine
  • Account:
    • Order tracking(new/resupply)
    • Generate order request letter
• Maintenance :
  • Software should be stable (i.e. it should require near zero amount of maintenance hassel)
  • If the software is Open Source Software it should be in active state (ie. some people should be really working on it )
• Database:
  • Book update
  • Student update
  • Linking book DB and Order db (i.e. Any book ordered and delivered will be automatically updated into book DB)
• Misc:
  • Report generation
  • Search
  • Book location map
  • Custom user class (e.g. there can be two use classes student and teacher with different default values of max. books allowed, book period etc.)
  • Generation of NO DUE certificate
  • Custom book class(e.g TBB, Normal...)
• Public Inerface:
  • Search: Search on various parameters
  • Account:
    • User should be able to view his/her account status(i.e. books issued, overdue, fine etc.)
    • User should be able to manage his account/profile
  • Interface for user to suggest
  • Procurement of new book (it should be reflected to the librarian)
• Usage
  • Integrated barcode scanning support
  • Integrated barcode printing support
  • Import mechanism to handle existing database.
  • Option to generate library cards to be used by the members