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General Questions
What is Librarika?
Librarika is a SaaS based Integrated Library System (ILS) platform built on the cloud.Who can use Librarika?
Librarika is an open platform for anybody wanting to manage their physical or virtual library online using Integrated Library System (ILS). That includes Universities, Colleges, Schools, Polytechnics, Medical Institutes, Public Libraries, Non-profit organizations, Government Agencies, Corporate Offices, Departments, Social Institutes, NGOs, Family and even a personal library.Is Librarika free to use?
Yes, the basic plan of Librarika is free for anyone for up to 2,000Is Librarika easy to use?
Librarika ILS is super easy to use, you need no technical skill to manage or use your library in Librarika?Do you have a user manual?
Yes, we are building a user manual for our librarians. Currently, the manual is in early stage and may contain grammatical and other errors. Please use it as reference and ignore any such errors. The manual is available at Librarika Manual (alpha).Is my communication to Librarika service encrypted / secured?
Yes, Librarika ILS is now only offered through https secure connection using industry standard 2048-bit SSL encryption technology. So, we can say that all your data communication over the Internet are fully protected and safe.What if we have multiple library branches?
Librarika supports multiple library branches for all its packages and it is very straight forward to use catalog item with multiple branches. You can take advantage of this feature.Do we need our own server for Librarika installation?
No, Librarika is pre-installed on our cloud server, you don't need to install any software on your own server.Do we need to install Librarika on our desktop or server?
No, Librarika is available on the Internet, you don't need to install anything on your desktop or server.What upgrade options are available?
Currently, we offer Basic Pro, Silver and Gold subscriptions as our premium plans. Please visit Librarika Premium Plans to learn more about our subscription plans.I need a custom package, is it possible?
Yes, custom package are designed to meet the specific needs of libraries with larger collections. Depending on your requirements we may be able to provide you custom package after careful analysis. Please go to Contact Us page and let us know about your custom requirements.How can I upgrade my Library to a Premium Plan?
Our upgrade process is completely automatic. Please log into your library dashboard using your library admin account. Navigate to Manage -> My Plan section, select which plan you want to upgrade to. Click on the Upgrade Now button, enter payment information and you will be upgraded instantly. Please go to Contact Us if you are facing any difficulties.What do you mean by "More Controls" in your Premium Plans?
We have some carefully designed opt-in options in Library Preferences section and in cataloging section. Such as ability to "Hide the book store panel" or turn of "Enable member access request" or control "URL Visibility" for catalog items. These options are not significant in day to day activities, but may be handy for some cases.Is there any maintenance cost involved in Librarika library?
No, there is no maintenance cost for Librarika library.How do I delete my Library?
Though we want you to stay with us, but it is ok to remove your library if your are not satisfied with our service.You can delete your entire library along with your user account. Please go to the Manage -> Library Information section in your dashboard. Click on the Remove Library tab and proceed with the removal.
Catalog Related Questions
Can I publish my library catalog online using OPAC?
Yes, OPAC is built in on each Librarika library instance, you can start publishing catalog right away after creating your library.Can I add book information from the Internet?
Yes, using our "Smart Add" module, you can import book directly from the Internet with just an ISBN number.Do you support bulk import of library items?
Yes, we do support importing your library catalog from CSV file. Please read the guideline for further details at Import Catalog Items.Can I use Barcode scanner in my catalog?
Yes, Please see the barcode scanner section for details.Do you send reminders for reservations or overdue items?
Yes, Librarika sends special reminders for overdue items. Librarika also supports email and on-site notifications on various member activities.How can I delete a book from my library catalog?
You can delete book from your catalog very easily. Please go to the Catalogs -> Catalog Items section in your dashboard. Find the book in your catalog and go to the View detail page. Click on Edit Item button on the top of the page. There you will find the Delete Item? option to delete a book. This will delete the book with all of its copies entirely from your catalog, so please be careful when deleting items. You need Library Admin permission in order to delete an item.How can I delete a single copy of a book from my library catalog?
Please go to the Catalogs -> Catalog Items section in your dashboard. Find the book in your catalog and go to the View detail page. Scroll down to the Copies section at the bottom of the page. You will see all the copies listed along with Edit and Delete option. Click on Delete option to delete a specific copy. This will delete the the copy with all reference to circulations from your library. So please be careful when deleting copies.Members / Patrons Related Questions
How many library members do you support?
We support unlimited members for your library. It depends on up to you how many you can support.Do you support members login?
Yes, we do support members log into your library and you can also control members login access from one simplified member's interface.Can a member checkout or check-in items online by themselves?
Yes, members can checkout or check-in items online. This feature is especially suitable for unattended personal, family or corporate library where a dedicated librarian is not always available. You can turn on or off self-service mode from the preferences section.Can member request items online?
Yes, members can request items online. You can turn on or off these feature from the preferences section.Do you support bulk import of library Members / Patrons?
Yes, we do support importing Members / Patrons from CSV file. Please read the import guideline for further details at Import Members / Patrons.Can our library member access Librarika from other mobile devices?
Yes, Librarika can be accessed from any internet enabled devices.How can I give login access to a Member?
It's easy, go to Dashboard -> Circulations -> Members section of your library. Click Add New Member button, enter member information along with email address, also select Allow Member Login checkbox and finally click submit. You are done, now member will receive an email invitation automatically with all the instructions to join the library.Can I set an initial Login ID and password for our members?
No, the way it works is member set their own Login ID and password when they join a library in Librarika.What to do if a member doesn't receive the invitation email we have sent?
Invitation email is important to join a Library. If the email is getting blocked by the spam filter or firewall, please use an alternate email address to send the invitation. Either way, member needs to receive an email to their mailbox in order to continue with their membership and receive important reminders regarding their booking activities.Alternatively, you can also follow this Member Access Request As An Alternative to Member Invites process.
E-Books Related Questions
Can I host E-Books with Librarika?
Yes, this is a custom package, so you will have to pay extra for your E-Books storage space.What E-Book formats do you support?
For hosted E-Books, we support both PDF and EPUB formats. For external e-books, you can provide any valid URL.Can my library member read E-Books online?
Yes, Member can read PDF / EPUB or download hosted e-books online right from the browser using our online Epub and PDF viewer. For external e-books, we don't have such online viewer option.Do you have download protection for hosted E-Books
Yes, we provide a layer of download protection for hosted E-Books by creating temporary URL and requiring member login. This means only the members can download or read the hosted E-Books, no permanent or publicly accessible link is given to the members / patrons. However, once a member downloads an e-book, we believe the protection is no longer applies.Can I host E-Books outside Librarika?
Yes, you can host E-Books outside Librarika and add a link to your respective catalog item.Can I make my external E-book link private only for members?
Yes, we support the privacy of your E-book links with 4 options, that is Public / Members / Booking Always / Active Booking. You can set them independently for each of the items in your catalog.Do you host copyrighted or DRM protected contents?
We believe our librarians are completely liable for adding items to their catalog. We don't encourage using copyrighted or DRM-protected contents.Payment Related Questions
What payment options do you support?
We support multiple payment options including PayPal, Master Card, Visa, Discover, Amex, Diners etc.Do you support PayPal?
Yes, you can make payment through PayPal. Please select pay with PayPal option during checkout.Do you store sensitive credit card information?
No, your sensitive information doesn't hit our server, so we don't have any access to your credit card number and sensitive data. You can be 100% assured that we don't store any of credit card data on our server or database.What payment processor do you process your transactions through?
All of our payments are processed through the renowned 2Checkout, Inc payment processing service.Is 2Checkout reliable?
Yes, they are one of the leading E-Commerce payment processor service in the world and PCI compliant. Please read more about them at their own website 2Checkout.com.What currency do you support?
Our base charges are in USD. But, 2Checkout supports 200+ countries and 87 currencies. So, you can pay with your own currency that is supported by 2Checkout, Inc.Why the charge is higher when I choose my own currency during checkout?
The conversion rate is dynamically calculated by 2Checkout based on international exchange rate. In that case, you may choose to pay in US dollar, and your bank will convert the currency giving you local best rate.What if I need an invoice? Do you send any invoice after the payment?
Yes, 2Checkout, Inc will send you an invoice right after the payment. If you still need a separate invoice from us, you can print the invoice from the My Plan (Dashboard -> Manage -> My Plan) section.My subscription will expire soon. How can I renew?
The renewal operation will be done automatically by 2Checkout. Please make sure that your payment information is updated and instruct your bank to authorize the transaction originated from 2Checkout.How can I update my payment information?
Please go to https://2co.com and enter your sale order number and the exact email address your entered during the last checkout. It will then allow you to update your payment information. Please contact us if you have forgotten your sale number or email address.Barcodes & Labels Related Questions
Do you support Barcode scanner?
Yes, libraries around the world using Barcode scanners with their Librarika ILS libraries. So we believe you also can use on yours.Do I need to install any software to support barcode scanning?
No, barcode scanner usually works automatically whenever you connect it to your computer / machine.What barcode scanner do you support?
You can use any latest barcode scanner, especially that can read CODE_39, CODE_128, EAN_8, EAN_13 barcode format and ISBN number from the book. Actually, we don't have any preferences here, most of the scanners come with the support for these formats.Where can I purchase a barcode scanner from?
If you have not purchased one already, please visit Amazon - Barcode scanners and order one for your library. You can also purchase from your local market whichever is suitable for you.Do I need to configure anything for barcode scanning?
No, normally you don't need any configuration.However, by reading the scanner manual, you can set a couple of special input modes which is by far used by the advanced users only in rare situations.
Do you support barcode printing?
Yes, we support barcode printing for accession number and member number.Can I use barcode printing on my free Librarika library?
Barcode label printing is a Premium feature. So, you can use it only after upgrading to a Paid Plans.User Accounts Related Questions
How can I create a Librarika Account?
Yes, you can create a Librarika account from the Sign UP page of our Librarika.com main website.Do I need a library membership to create a Librarika Account?
No, you don't need a prior library membership.Can I apply to join a Librarika Library?
Yes, by logging into the Librarika main account at https://librarika.com. You can submit member access request to any library in librarika platform. However, you membership application will be reviewed by the respective library officials.Can I join multiple Libraries using my same Librarika Account?
Yes, one Librarika account can be used to join multiple libraries, do check-outs and check-ins, etc.I have just received a confirmation email. What is my username?
Usually, your email address is treated as your username. So, please enter your email address whenever you log into your library website. For ease of use, you can also enable Facebook login from your profile settings section. This will enable your password-less login through Facebook.What is the difference between Users and Members?
Users and Members are different concepts in Librarika:- Users are independent accounts that exist across the entire Librarika platform. A user can join multiple libraries with a single account.
- Members (also called Patrons) are library-specific records managed by each library. A member record contains library-specific information like member number, borrowing history, and fines.
What happens when I receive an invitation from a library?
When you receive an invitation:- If your email address is new to Librarika, you will be asked to create a new user account and then join the library.
- If your email address already has a Librarika account, you will simply join the library with your existing account.
Can my library admin reset my password?
No. Library admins cannot reset or view your password. Your Librarika user account is independent of any library. If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" option on the login page to reset it yourself.Can my library admin change my email address?
No. Library admins can only manage your member-specific information within their library (like member number, member type, and contact details stored in the member record). Your login credentials (email, password) can only be changed by you through your Librarika account settings.Why is my password secure from library admins?
For security and privacy reasons, your password is:- Encrypted and not visible to anyone, including library admins and Librarika staff
- Managed independently by you
- Reset only by you through the password reset process
SIP2 Integration
What is SIP2?
SIP2 (Standard Interchange Protocol 2.0) is an industry-standard protocol developed by 3M that allows library automation devices like self-checkout kiosks and RFID systems to communicate with library management systems. Librarika supports SIP2 to enable self-service capabilities in your library.What can I do with SIP2 integration?
With Librarika SIP2 integration, you can:- Allow patrons to check out items using self-service kiosks
- Enable self-return stations for book checkins
- Verify patron status and account information
- Process checkouts and checkins without staff assistance
Which Librarika plans include SIP2?
SIP2 integration is available for all Librarika paid libraries:- Gold Plan - Includes 1 SIP2 terminal free
- All Paid Plans - Additional terminals available with per-terminal licensing
What SIP2 message types are supported?
Librarika SIP2 currently supports 6 message types:- 93/94 - Login: Terminal authentication using institution ID and terminal password
- 23/24 - Patron Status: Verify patron information using member number
- 11/12 - Checkout: Issue items to patrons with due date
- 09/10 - Checkin: Return items with status update
- 99/98 - SC Status: Self-check device status
- 97/96 - ACS Resend: Request message resend
How do I connect my device to Librarika via SIP2?
To connect your SIP2 device:- Ensure you have a paid plan and have purchased SIP2 terminal access
- Contact Librarika support to enable SIP2 for your library
- We will create an account with Library Staff permission for your SIP2 terminal
- You will receive your connection credentials: server address, port 6009, institution ID (AO), and terminal password (AC)
- Configure your device using these credentials according to your device manufacturer's instructions
- Test the connection to verify login, checkout, and checkin operations
What is the SIP2 server port?
Librarika SIP2 uses TLS encrypted connections on Port 6009. The server address will be provided when your SIP2 service is activated.What is the Terminal Password format?
The terminal password (AC field) should be in the format username:password (colon-separated). This is the credentials for the Library Staff account that will be created for your SIP2 terminal.What patron identifier is used?
Patrons are identified using their Member Number in the AA (Patron Identifier) field. This is the same member number assigned in Librarika.What item identifiers are supported for checkout/checkin?
The AB (Item Identifier) field supports:- Accession Number - Your library's internal item number
- Barcode - Item barcode
- ISBN - For books
What is the Institution ID (AO field)?
The Institution ID is your Librarika library subdomain. For example, if your library URL ismyschool.librarika.com, your institution ID would be myschool.
Is the SIP2 connection secure?
Yes. Librarika SIP2 includes multiple security layers:- TLS/SSL Encryption: All connections on port 6009 are encrypted
- Library Staff Permission: SIP2 accounts require Library Staff permission
- Terminal Password: Device-level authentication required
- Manual Activation: SIP2 access is manually enabled by our team
What happens if my self-checkout kiosk loses internet connection?
SIP2 requires an active internet connection to communicate with Librarika. If the connection is lost, the device will not be able to process checkouts or checkins until connectivity is restored.Are renewals and holds supported?
Currently, the Renew (29/30) and Hold (15/16) message types are not implemented. Patrons needing to renew items or place holds should use the Librarika web interface or mobile app.How do I troubleshoot SIP2 connection issues?
Common troubleshooting steps:- Verify your device has internet connectivity
- Check that the server address and port 6009 are correct
- Verify your institution ID (AO) matches your library subdomain
- Confirm your terminal password (AC) is in the format username:password
- Ensure your firewall allows outbound connections to port 6009
- Verify your device supports TLS/SSL encrypted connections
- Contact Librarika support with your device logs for assistance
How do I get started with SIP2?
To get started:- Ensure you have a Librarika paid plan (Basic Pro, Silver, Gold, or higher)
- Contact us via our contact page to request SIP2 activation and discuss terminal pricing
- Our team will create a Library Staff account for your SIP2 terminal
- You will receive your connection credentials (server, port, institution ID, terminal password)
- Configure your devices and test the connection
SSO / SAML Integration
What is SSO with SAML?
SSO (Single Sign-On) with SAML allows your library members to log in using their existing organizational credentials. Instead of creating separate Librarika passwords, members can authenticate through your organization's Identity Provider (IdP) such as Azure AD, Google Workspace, Okta, or other SAML 2.0 compliant systems.Which Librarika plans include SSO?
SSO with SAML is available for Silver and Gold plans.How do I set up SSO for my library?
- Go to your library's Preferences → SSO section
- Copy the ACS URL and ACS Entity ID provided by Librarika into your Identity Provider's SAML app configuration
- Enter your IdP details: Entity ID, SSO Service URL, and X.509 Certificate
- Save your settings and contact us to activate SSO
What information do I need from my Identity Provider?
You will need the following from your IdP:- IdP Entity ID - Identifier of the IdP (must be a URI)
- IdP SSO Service URL - The login endpoint URL
- X.509 Certificate - Public certificate from your IdP
What does Librarika provide for IdP configuration?
Librarika provides these values in your Preferences → SSO section to enter in your IdP's SAML app configuration:- ACS URL - Assertion Consumer Service URL
- ACS Entity ID - Service Provider Entity ID
Which Identity Providers are supported?
Librarika supports any SAML 2.0 compliant Identity Provider, including Microsoft Azure AD, Google Workspace, Okta, OneLogin, Auth0, Ping Identity, ADFS, and others.Is SSO activation automatic?
No. After you configure your SSO settings in library preferences, Librarika staff will manually review and activate SSO for your library. Please contact us after completing your configuration.Miscellaneous Questions
Do you have GDPR statement? If so, where can I see it?
Yes, we have a GDPR statement explaining our stands on new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can access it here at GDPR Statement.What is 429 Too Many Requests? What can I do?
In order to protect our system from automated bots, vulnerability scanner and brute-force attack, we have set security policies in our servers. These policies monitor bots like behaviour and block the clients for a specified duration in order to keep the system up and running. We have found that these policies has helped us a lot. The error 429 with “Too Many Requests” message is shown because of that.However, our policies are not 100% perfect and may sometimes block legitimate clients. Specially, if too many people are using the system at the same time showing bots like behaviour or if your ISP public IP is being shared with a broad range of user base.
If you are facing this issue frequently, please share more information about your library and the public IP addresses your network is using to access the internet. We will then be able to investigate the traffic pattern and if legitimate, we can increase the limit for those IP addresses.