Koha
KOHA is the first popular open source library management system, which was created in 1999 and was developed in 2000 by Katipo Communication for the Horowhenua Library trust in New Zealand. KOHA being the first open source integrated library management system, includes all the main features related to library management like easy interface for librarians and users, Web 2.0 compliant (tagging and RSS feeds), union catalogue facility, customizable search, Circulation and borrower management, full acquisition system including budgets and pricing information, etc. It is web-based open source software, which is distributed under the general public license (GNU). KOHA works on windows, UNIX, Linux and Mac OS platforms. KOHA is a comprehensive system that has the capacity to run a library intelligently, whether it is large or small, real or virtual. KOHA supports copy cataloguing. It is based on the standards/protocols like z39.50, MARC21 and UNIMARC. KOHA also has the capacity to manage digital libraries and online and offline electronic resources.
Features of Koha
- Acquisitions: Koha has a acquisitions module with complete functionality of recommendation, ordering, receiving, invoicing, budgeting, book funding, setting suppliers and exchange rates.
- Circulation: a complete featured and powerful circulation module with customised circulation rules to suit any kind of library; it fully automates the borrowing and item management.
- OPAC- Koha has all the elements and attributes of OPAC with a simple and clear interface, and in addition to it also supports content from sources of collections like Amazon, Google Books, etc.
- Flexible reporting: Koha provides access to the RDBMS, so reports can be easily customised and prepared as per the individual requirements.
- Customisable item types: The catalogue items can be opted as per the preference and requirements of the individual libraries.
- Barcode/ RFID : The ILS Koha is based on the web browser and its is fully compatible with all kinds of barcode, QR codes, RFIDs and other similar technologies.
- User management: The software provides incorporation with systems like LDAP, Active Directory, Radius and SAML to allow single sign-on facility for the user’s management.
- Metadata: Koha has a potential to generate a qualitative metadata, it uses a full text indexing engine to allow for speedy and authoritative searching of metadata.
- Standards: Koha uses all latest standards including MARC21, UNIMARC, Z39.50, SRU/SW, SIP2 and many more are supported.x
- Automated overdue notices: Overdue notices are either provided by email or SMS.
- Consortia Mode: The ILS can work as multi-branch or single-branch mode in the consortia mode.
- Translations: Koha is translated into many languages and is available in nearly 62 languages
- Offline circulation: Koha also provides provision to do offline circulations
- Self Check: Koha also facilitates the use with SIP2 compliant self-check-in, check-out machines.
- Faceted searching: Koha provides the federated search results which are classified for its users
