Koha: An Open Source Library
Management System
David Hughes
Systems Librarian
Dublin Business School
What is open-source software
Not necessarily FREE software
But “computer software with its source
code made available with a license in which
the copyright holder provides the rights to
study, change and distribute the software to
anyone and for any purpose”1
1 Open-source software. (2015, February 20). In Wikipedia,The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:24, February 24,
2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Open-source_software&oldid=647960559
Open Source Software
Use
Study
Amend
Distribute
cf freeware
I love open-source software and I
cannot lie
Free*
No contracts or licences
Can change it yourself
* Terms and conditions may apply
But…
Can be complicated to install/use
Support can be haphazard
Might have to rely on goodwill/enthusiasm
Take home message
You should investigate open-source
software where possible, but be aware that
it may not be suitable for your
circumstances
Open Source Software in the Library
What is a Library Management System (LMS)?
An electronic system used for the
management of some library operations
Consists of
◦ Relational databases
◦ Software
◦ User interfaces (staff, non-staff)
Alternatively…
Scary bit that you don’t see
 Boring bit that system librarian sees
(to follow [yawn…])
 The bit that you and the readers use

Why do you need an LMS?
Any suggestions?
Why do you need an LMS?
To keep track of:
Holdings
Orders
Patrons
Loans
Fines
Catalogue search interface
Patron Access
Metrics
Why is it important?
Can be main IT interface for
Library Staff (desktop)
Users (OPAC)
At the heart of library matters
A tool for enforcing library policies
A very good source of library data
Library Planning…
..and other things
60
Library Usage and Exam Success 2011-2012
50
40
30
Average Library Usage
20
10
0
FIRST CLASS
HONOURS
UPPER SECOND CLASS
HONOURS
LOWER SECOND
CLASS HONOURS
THIRD CLASS
HONOURS
Koha
Open Source Library Management System
 Web-based
 “Gift” in Maori
 Created in 1999 in New Zealand
 In use at DBS since September 2013
 Written in Perl
 Runs on Linux
 Uses SQL databases

Koha Demo Installation
https://koha-demo.interleaf.ie/
Login with
username: demo-staffuser
password demo
A few things about Koha
Authorised Values
Holdings and Patron Data
Patron Attributes
Offline Circulation
Reporting
Authorised Values
Values that are authorised!
Use to control what data can be entered
into specific fields (e.g item status or
collection code)
Used primarily for cataloguing
Koha installs with some pre-defined values
Create your own
Shelving Location
Shelving Location
Bibliographic Data
Marc Format (MAchine Readable
Cataloguing)
Import from file
Import from cataloguing
service
Create ad hoc
Create templates for e.g different media
Patron Data
Bulk import from text (csv file)
Connect to & import from student management
system
Create ad hoc
Patron Attributes
Patron attributes can be used to define
custom fields to associate with your patron
records
Capture data that otherwise cannot be
stored in patron records…
Like…
So…
Library Borrowing vs Library Class Attendance
50.00
45.00
40.00
35.00
30.00
25.00
Average Borrowing
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
Non-Attendees
All Library Class Attendees
(including sign-up classes)
Curricular Class Attendees
Offline Circulation
Koha is web-based? What happens if you
lose your Internet connection?
Offline Circulation Module
Desktop Application
Firefox Add-On
The “.koc file”
Reporting
Requires SQL
Pre-supplied reports
Generate your own
Online Reports Wiki
Library Planning…
http://wiki.koha-community.org/wiki/SQL_Reports_Library
SELECT count(*) AS holds, title, author, ccode
FROM (
SELECT biblio.title, biblio.author, items.ccode, biblio.biblionumber FROM reserves
LEFT JOIN biblio ON (reserves.biblionumber=biblio.biblionumber)
LEFT JOIN items ON (biblio.biblionumber=items.biblionumber)
WHERE DATE(reserves.timestamp) > DATE_SUB(CURRENT_DATE(),INTERVAL 6
MONTH) AND DATE(reserves.timestamp) <=CURRENT_DATE() UNION ALL
SELECT biblio.title, biblio.author, items.ccode, biblio.biblionumber
FROM
old_reserves
LEFT JOIN biblio ON (old_reserves.biblionumber=biblio.biblionumber)
LEFT JOIN items ON (biblio.biblionumber=items.biblionumber)
WHERE DATE(old_reserves.timestamp) > DATE_SUB(CURRENT_DATE(),INTERVAL
6 MONTH) AND DATE(old_reserves.timestamp) <=CURRENT_DATE() ) AS myholds
GROUP BY biblionumber
ORDER BY holds DESC LIMIT 10
Reading Lists at DBS
Field in previous LMS catalogue record –
“Catalogue Groups”
Group together texts on a reading list
Search for catalogue group value = get
module reading lists
LORLS
Loughborough Online Reading List
Software
Developed at Loughborough University,
England (Gary Brewerton et al)
Implemented at DBS September 2014
Koha  LORLS?
Zotero!
Open source reference management
software
Similar to, but sufficiently different from
EndNote
Add-on for Firefox (also open source!) or
standalone software
Koha  LORLS
Koha  Zotero (one click)
Zotero  Export as BibTeX
Import BibTeX file  LORLS
Koha resources
Koha Community
http://koha-community.org/
Demo installations
http://koha-community.org/demo/
Reports Library
http://wiki.koha-community.org/wiki/SQL_Reports_Library
Databases & Fields
http://schema.koha-community.org/index.html
Bywater Solutions – Koha Support for Libraries
http://bywatersolutions.com/
LORLS/Zotero/General resources
LORLS home page
http://blog.lboro.ac.uk/lorls/
DBS LORLS
http://lorls.dbs.ie
The reading list challenge : implementing Loughborough Online
Reading List Software (LORLS) [Presentation]
http://esource.dbs.ie/handle/10788/1763
Zotero home page
https://www.zotero.org/
Free/Open Source Software for Libraries
https://foss4lib.org/
The End
Thanks for listening!