KOHAILS · core
The first free open-source library system, today in libraries of all sizes: cataloguing, loans, acquisitions, serials, authority records, reports and offline loans.
MARC 21 · UNIMARC · Z39.50 · SRU · SIP2 / NCIP
Information systems and digitisation
Library information systems
Moving from a commercial library system need not be a leap into the unknown. We implement and support the open systems KOHA a FOLIO with a discovery interface VuFind — with no licence fees and with full control over both the data and the interface.
We will describe what the transition involves, how it proceeds migration of records and which of three operating models fits your institution — from a municipal library to a consortium.
Three open systems, one expertise
FOLIOLSP · core
A modular platform built jointly by libraries and vendors under the Open Library Foundation — including the management of electronic resources, licences and agreements.
loans · acquisitions · inventory · e-resources · users
VuFinddiscovery · add-on
Faceted search across the catalogue and the digital collections, real-time availability of copies, permanent URLs for records and export to citation managers.
Solr · OAI-PMH · API · 30+ languages
KOHAorFOLIOVuFindyou choose the core, discovery is added on top of both
ILS is an integrated library system, LSP library services platform and discovery a search interface for the reader. Open software means no licence fees, full control over the data and the interface — and the freedom to change supplier. We supply what open source does not solve on its own: expert implementation, migration and operation.
What we supply
DELIVERY · FROM ANALYSIS TO OPERATION
- Analysis of holdings and processes
- Installation and configuration
- Data migration from the original system
- Integration with discovery and the repository
- Service, support and development
Migration from a commercial system — what to expect
Migrating a library system is not a software installation but a project with its own methodology. Most of the work is not technical — it lies in the data and in agreeing how the library should behave after the changeover. That is why we always follow the same procedure and say in advance what will be needed from you.
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Analysis of the current state
what system is running, what formats the data is in (MARC 21, UNIMARC), which modules you actually use and which just sit there.
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Data preparation on the library's side
cleaning up duplicates, unifying authority records, checking the borrower database. This is the part that nobody will do for you — and it determines the quality of the result.
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Test migration
we transfer the data into a test instance and librarians comment on it using real records.
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Configuration to match your processes
loan rules, fees, notifications, the appearance of the OPAC.
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Training and the go-live migration
the transition planned outside peak operating hours, with a backup of the original system.
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Support after go-live
the first weeks are critical; we are available for fine-tuning and for answers.
An open system also means that after the migration you remain the owner of the data and of the decision about your next supplier — you are not tied to a single manufacturer or to its price list.
Three operating models — from a small municipal library to a consortium
The system can run anywhere. The difference lies in who carries the technical operation — and for small libraries that is the key question. We can supply and service both the hardware and the infrastructure; we will help you set up and agree where the system will run.
The library's own serverFor institutions with their own IT. Full control over the environment; we provide the implementation, the updates and the support.
Server and infrastructure from usA library deals with librarianship, not servers. We supply the server and the whole infrastructure, deploy the system and take over the servicing and maintenance of this equipment — suitable for town and municipal libraries without an IT department.
The regional library as the providerA single instance operated by a regional or county library for the municipal libraries in its region. A proven Slovak model — municipalities get a modern system without IT costs of their own.
Frequently asked questions
KOHA or FOLIO — which system to choose?
KOHA is a proven choice for standalone libraries and smaller institutions — quick deployment, a huge community. FOLIO makes sense for larger institutions and consortia that need a modular platform and integrations. We will help you choose according to your collection, your processes and your budget — independently, both systems are open.
Can you handle data migration from our current system?
Yes — migration of bibliographic records, readers and loans from the original system is a standard part of the implementation, including data cleaning and checking.
We are a small municipal library — does an open-source system make sense for us?
Yes, and often greater than for large institutions: it removes the licence fees that a small budget cannot bear. The condition is that somebody takes on the technical operation — most often this is taken over by the regional library, which runs the system for the whole region; this is exactly the model that works in Slovakia. We can supply and service both the server and the infrastructure, and we will help set up and agree the operating arrangements.
Can KOHA handle interlibrary loans?
Yes. KOHA has an interlibrary loan (ILL) module; it is switched on with a system preference and the range of functions depends on the chosen backend, which determines how a request is fulfilled. It likewise covers cataloguing in MARC 21, acquisitions, serials, circulation, the reader account and the OPAC.
How long does the migration take and how much work is there on our side?
It depends on the size of the collection and the state of the data — for a typical town library, a matter of weeks. The technical conversion is not what takes the most time; data preparation does: cleaning up duplicates and unifying authorities. The library does this part with its own librarians; we supply the procedure, the check outputs and a test instance for verification.
What about discovery search across digital collections?
We connect VuFind with the catalogue and with the digital repository — the user searches in one place across the collections. Related to our services digitisation a digital archives.
Will the system work with our self-service kiosks and other systems?
Yes. KOHA is built on library standards and protocols: MARC 21 and UNIMARC for records, Z39.50 and SRU for searching and importing records from external catalogues, SIP2 and NCIP for self-service loan terminals and interlibrary services. VuFind adds OAI-PMH and an API to that, so we can pass records to aggregators and to your own applications.
Library systems · Consultation
Are you planning a new library system?
Describe your collection and your current system to us — we will advise on both selection and migration.
E-mail: qintec@qintec.sk · Phone: +421 2 3240 1217 (working days 9:00 – 15:30)