Koha

Koha has it all for Library Management

Pros:

The fact that it is a first free automated library software, I am entitled to receive a customer care support 24/7. By being automated, it is easy for students to individually check-in and check-out. This software has got a version that can be installed in Android devices as well as iOS devices to serve the students in case of book search and tracking which in turn reduces overcrowding at computer checkpoints in the library. Just not to forget, the customization options of OPAC is more than excellent.

Cons:

If only there was an option of deleting lenders in batch, I would really appreciate but the software is superb.

Extremely powerful software to host a Library, but difficult to use

Comments: Once I learned the ins and outs and various quirks of Koha, I like it, and think it is a very powerful and valuable piece of software for libraries. The fact that it is free is a huge plus, as most libraries are non-profit and don't have a huge budget, let alone an IT budget. ByWater solutions, that supports Koha, is fairly responsive, but not always the most helpful.

Pros:

Koha is extremely flexible and powerful, allowing you to effectively setup a full features Library website without having to purchase any expensive software. The Koha server supports a robust catalog search feature, powerful user management, relatively easy way to scan in new books, and even the ability to print out barcodes for said books. And with a bit of work, you can customize Koha to display a nice web portal. There is also a robust support community to help you out, something you will most likely need.

Cons:

By far the biggest con is simply how difficult Koha is to use. While the initial setup isn't too difficult, anything beyond that can be extremely complicated. The Koha backend is extremely dense and non-intuitive. While there is a search feature to find different settings, the settings themselves are labeled in an opaque manner, making it difficult to know what you are searching for. Furthermore, any kind of editing you would like to on the web portal must be done using CSS, there is absolutely no WYSIWYG editor of any kind.

I am Not a fan

Comments: The system is not keeping up with cataloging. I catalog a book and then search for it in system, and it is not there.

Pros:

The people. The customer service is great.

Cons:

The product itself is not great. I am having trouble with the system keeping up with my cataloging.

KOHA: AN ONLINE CATALOGUE

Comments: In combination of Dspace, patrons are able to access and use digitised information resources online. This makes things easy for both librarian and patron

Pros:

KOHA is a typically an online software. It works well with many web based applications. With the help of proxy server contents of a particular library can be accessed remotely.

Cons:

Deployment of KOHA involves too technical ICT expertise. One basically needs the support of an ICT technician to install the software.

Good for what it is, wish it was streamlined

Comments: Easy to learn, easy to use but you get what you (don't) pay for so to speak.

Pros:

It's open source so that is a big selling point. It's easy to fiddle with and shift and change things. As someone who is new to library software, it's easy onboarding and easy to figure out without a complicated tutorial.

Cons:

The search functionality is an issue for our patrons. Often you can search the exact book title and not get the book. The tags can be hit or miss. We have glitches that we're often dealing with and never really get solved so it sometimes just looks unprofessional. The process to upload images seems overly complicated, having to copy and paste MARC instead of just having the upload process embedded into the record. The UX could be improved and streamlined in several areas to reduce clicks or make it easy to alter multiple entries at once instead of one by one.

KOHA has too many glitches.

Comments: We're a library, so we're non-profit, but it's better than doing it all longhand.

Pros:

It's easy to use. I work at a small, rural library, and this system works well for simple check-out and check-in.

Cons:

It has too many glitches. It seems to randomly assign people credits, and sometimes causes items to be due the same day it is checked out.

unorganized but simple software

Pros:

Our colleges use Koha for library use and we are able to logon at any campus and see which books are offered at which campus.

Cons:

The design of the software looks messy and unorganized but is basic and simplistic in nature.

Excellent system for the management of libraries practical and safe.

Pros:

What I like the most is that you can get listings of publications by subject as well as authors and that allows you to make a large number of reports.

Cons:

Its installation, configuration are a bit cumbersome since it is difficult to identify the different ways of acquiring material everything recognizes as acquisition.

Very Positive Move for our Library

Comments: Our library was a long-time customer of one of the larger, proprietary vendors. We were unhappy with the high annual cost of the system, the lack of adequate technical support and training, poor indexing, etc. We eventually made a financial system to move elsewhere. We chose Koha because of it is open source, provides us with better functionality than we had, at a fraction of the cost. (We are in a hosted solution.)

Pros:

We love that Koha is web-based. I have joked that I could run circulation from my smartphone. We have also been very impressed with its overall ease of use. We also love the customization options of the OPAC.

Cons:

It would be nice to be able to customize the cataloging frameworks more easily. We would also like an option to delete borrowers in batch. Otherwise, we're very happy with the software.

Koha is an amazing ILS

Comments: I have been using Koha for many years and have recently had my Koha installation supported by ByWater Solutions who have been able to provide even more functionality for this amazing software.

Pros:

Easy to use, cost effective, advanced features, ability to ask for changes, innovative and changing with times.

Cons:

I see no drawbacks to this software given the current capabilities of other programs.

The Society of the Four Arts King Library

Comments: Our original software was proprietary and inflexible. Koha has the flexibility we were looking for and is open source for ease of future innovations. ByWater Solutions helped us to migrate and get set-up; their staff was responsive and experienced.

Pros:

The Open Source quality; it's flexible and adapts to all our needs. We own the software and can suggest changes. The user group is very informative, especially with solving known issues.

Cons:

N/A