Top 10: Cloud Library Management software

2023. Libib adds Patron freeze to prevent self-checkouts/holds



In a move that might well leave library managers feeling slightly smug and patrons slightly baffled, Libib Cloud Library Management software has unveiled its latest Pro account delight: the Patron Freeze. Previously, the system relied on the quaint but deeply flawed honor system to prevent patrons from grabbing too many books or hogging all the holds. When things inevitably went awry, the only solution was a heavy-handed nuke-the-patron approach, deleting them (and their literary history) from existence—a bit like solving a messy desk problem by setting the entire desk on fire. But lo! Enter the Patron Freeze! With a swift managerial flick of the digital wrist, troublesome patrons can now be frozen in place, unable to check out or place holds, much like a confused penguin at a locked library door. A polite notification will inform them of their predicament, while a fetching blue striped background will mark their frozen status in the system, ensuring managers can spot them with ease. Everyone wins—except the frozen patrons, of course.


2023. Soutron ILS gets Auto Catalogue Import module



In a delightfully updated turn of events, Soutron Library Management System 4.1.9 has fluttered into existence, dazzling its users with an assortment of enhancements, glittering features, security fortifications, and other bits intended to improve just about everything. Now, whether you’re searching from a desktop the size of a small moon or a pocket device that occasionally pretends to be a phone, the multi-device-friendly Search Portal templates will faithfully keep up with your whims. Librarians and the like will find their bibliographic record importing transported to the new admin application, which now handily includes features like automatic copy creation and an import history for those who prefer not to repeat themselves. Meanwhile, a shiny new Orders Tab has been discreetly positioned within the catalogue edit screen, giving users a nifty peek at current and past orders for any given title. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more accommodating, users can now set the default search results template based on whatever slab of tech they’re using, rendering search results refreshingly clear for desktops, mobiles, or tablets alike. Oh, and for the visually inclined, Google Drive integration now allows image collections to lounge elegantly within Soutron’s records, with the Media Player plug-in in the Search Portal making sure they look splendid.

2022. Follett School Solutions to acquire ILS software Accessit



In a move that could only be described as the sort of thing a particularly ambitious hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional entity might dream up over tea, Follett School Solutions, the unflappable titan of K-12 educational technology, has rather delightfully declared its acquisition of Access-It Software Ltd (Accessit), a plucky yet undeniably distinguished global provider of library management systems that’s been charming over 4,000 institutions across a baffling 45 countries. The union, a positively galactic convergence of Follett Destiny Library Manager—North America’s indisputable librarian darling—and Accessit Library, the international virtuoso of the field, heralds a new era of library automation where books and bytes shall cavort harmoniously. Together, these two titans will offer school libraries a dazzlingly comprehensive toolkit, replete with futuristic features capable of tackling the many, many complications of modern education, leaving librarians worldwide wondering, "Why didn’t someone do this sooner?”


2022. Libero to offer libraries more security



In the ineffably vast and bewildering universe of library management systems, Libero has introduced a dazzling array of updates so practical, even a Vogon bureaucrat might consider them handy. Among these enhancements are rather clever bits like optional default passwords—wherein librarians can set a member’s surname or phone number as the initial access point, sparing members the agony of a mysterious first-time login. And if that's not enough to feel positively splendid, they've also implemented improved security measures, like nudging members with politely insistent emails reminding them of renewal details all bundled in one place (far easier than searching the length and breadth of the Milky Way for such trivialities). There's even the endearing ability to store and respect preferred names for members, all while preserving the gravitas of official records. Best of all, password change requirements on the first WebOPAC login ensure a boost in security without a hint of Vogon poetry, so users can safely roam the electronic stacks, enjoying an experience that's a tad more inclusive, a smidgen more secure, and possibly a lot more delightful.


2021. Federal Government Library selects Bibliovation



In a galaxy not so far away, a federal government library nestled in the quaint wilderness of Massachusetts has made the cosmic leap to adopt Bibliovation as its shiny new Library Services Platform (LSP). The implementation mission has been set in motion with the singular aim of achieving full Bibliovation hyperspace functionality by October’s end. Equipped with precisely the sort of techno-wizardry necessary to align with the library's delightfully intricate workflows, Bibliovation also comes with a LibLime-proposed price tag that won’t leave anyone gasping for fiscal oxygen. The LibLime crew, a team of implementation virtuosos, will work hand-in-hand with library staff to ensure that the October go-live date doesn’t slip into an alternative dimension. Being entirely web-based, this LSP marvel allows researchers, staff, and system overlords to glide seamlessly through its interface via standard-issue web browsers. And thanks to the FedRAMP-certified infrastructure of the Amazon AWS Cloud, it delivers the kind of secure and economical hosting solution that would make even the most paranoid Vogon relax.