Koha

Koha is an enterprise-class integrated library system (ILS) that handles acquisitions, circulation, cataloging, label printing, and offline circulation for when Internet access is not available. It suits public, school, and academic libraries that want to run their own catalog and lending workflow on their own servers. It replaces paid ILS products such as SirsiDynix Symphony and Ex Libris Alma. The offline circulation module covers checkouts and check-ins during network outages, but libraries needing vendor-hosted support and a fully managed upgrade path must arrange that themselves, since Koha ships as software to install and maintain, not a hosted service. Koha's modules cover the daily work of a library: ordering and receiving materials in acquisitions, lending and returns in circulation, and original or copy cataloging with label printing for spines and barcodes. Offline circulation keeps the desk running when Internet access is not available and syncs transactions once the connection returns. The system is open source, so libraries can inspect and modify the code, and a worldwide community contributes translations and fixes. Smaller libraries with limited IT staff should weigh the setup and maintenance work against the license savings before switching.