Calibre for library+ebrary management

[Arche]

Hi!

The topic has been covered in parts but not fully to the extent I need so I deemed it worthy of a new topic.

So to the point.
We're creating a new websystem in our fraternity and the library is a part of it.
We have some 30k physical books - and a tad more - to index. And until now there's just a library system that some guy programmed himself on mySQL and sadly no-one ever uses it because it's limited and clumsy.
Also, we're discussing and probably creating an e-library for in-house use.

So the ideal solution would be able to:
- run a database of all the physical books in the fraternity library. With placemarkers and possibilities of multiple entries of the same book in the same place or in different locations.
- allow users/fraternity members to create and run a database of their books at home. And be able to have parts of their library show up in the big library system for all the members. This would actually be a win-win situation because guys would have a clear view of the stance of their libraries and also share some or all the information of their home libraries - so others could know to whom to turn to if they needed a certain book.
- offer a system to track and time borrowings. So that the whereabouts of the books would be easy to track and remember.
- offer an easy GUI for entering all kinds of books - by ISBN etc.
- be able to maintain customized fields in database
- possibly be able to run multiple user groups with different rights to different parts of the system
- and last but not least - be able to host an extensive library of ebooks. Allow for easy adding, possibly over the internet. And also be able to include different databases - if someone wants to open up their calibre database to other fraternity members then it would be easy...


So my question is - as I myself am just starting with my own ebrary management and I don't know the full potential of calibre yet - that how much of this would be accomplishable by calibre right now and how much additional programming would be needed? We have some IT-guys..
Or - as an alternative - is there a good system that could do all that?

Also - did I leave any great features out that could be there in a library system like that - if anyone can suggest something useful, I'd be really thankful

Cheers&Thanks!

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by Arche

- run a database of all the physical books in the fraternity library.

Yes, calibre can do this.

With placemarkers and possibilities of multiple entries of the same book in the same place or in different locations.

Yes. Different duplicate entries, different custom fields are allowed.

- allow users/fraternity members to create and run a database of their books at home.

Yes.

And be able to have parts of their library show up in the big library system for all the members.

Would have to be managed by someone to add this info to the main library. Won't work automatically. Note that content server remote access can't change the main database.

- offer a system to track and time borrowings. So that the whereabouts of the books would be easy to track and remember.

Nothing is automated for this.

- offer an easy GUI for entering all kinds of books - by ISBN etc.

This is available, but again, only for the administrator, not for other users.

- be able to maintain customized fields in database

Yes, by admin.

- possibly be able to run multiple user groups with different rights to different parts of the system

Yes, in a limited way. You need one server for each group, with tags for the books and a restriction run for that server.

- and last but not least - be able to host an extensive library of ebooks.

Yes

Allow for easy adding,

Yes

possibly over the internet.

Not at this time, except for admin running remote access software, e.g. PCAnywhere, VNC, etc.

And also be able to include different databases - if someone wants to open up their calibre database to other fraternity members then it would be easy...

Yes, access is easy to other databases if they run the content server and set up remote access.

[Arche]

Thanks for an informative reply.

So calibre could possibly be the app for our library if our boys create some new modules for it.

I haven't involved myself too much in programming but how developer-friendly is calibre? And what language can be used to write additional modules?

And can anybody who has created some plugins comment on the doability and feasibility of the parts I mentioned that are not available yet?

I'll need some information to hand out to our IT-boys that would inspire them. We need a new system for the library and if it isn't done with some broader pespective then we'll need another one in 3 years - I'd really hate to see that happen.

[Starson17]

Originally Posted by Arche

how developer-friendly is calibre?

Extremely friendly. I've never encountered open source that is easier or more friendly to developers. Also see the developer forum here. Lots of help is available.

And what language can be used to write additional modules?

Python.

And can anybody who has created some plugins comment on the doability and feasibility of the parts I mentioned that are not available yet?

Remote access that changes the database is not trivial. There is work in progress to rewrite the backend database access that may make it easier.

[Arche]

Hmm, that's great news.

But what about a more advanced way of handling users and groups with different rights and a more automated borrowing system (would be based on the users/groups plugin)

Also what are the chances of making such user-plugin compatible with other authenticating systems - the fraternity intranet in this case but probably others in other cases.

Also a plugin to run on both the big library and a member's home library that would allow the member to decide at home if a book should be open to "public" or not and that the big library server could act accordingly - import the book info or leave it be..

[AlexandreLemos]

I'm looking for a way to sync Calibre with my Kobo Touch using the same wifi connection but I can't find it? It's just me or there's no such possibility?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can answer me.

AL.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by AlexandreLemos

I'm looking for a way to sync Calibre with my Kobo Touch using the same wifi connection but I can't find it? It's just me or there's no such possibility?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can answer me.

AL.

Mostly, Device WiFi connections are used with the Calibre content Server (Read only)

If you can 'Map' a drive (on the Calibre Host) to the Kobo, you might be able to use the Connect to Folder for sync.