SLiMS
What it is
SLiMS is a library management system for libraries and librarians, with tools for catalog search, circulation, inventory, and reporting. Its online public access catalog supports cover thumbnails and simple or advanced searches. Bibliographic records can hold documents and media, while record details and catalog feeds are available in several formats, including MODS XML, JSON-LD, RSS XML, and OAI-PMH Dublin Core. Circulation covers loans, returns, reservations, configurable loan rules, quick returns, and membership management. Stocktaking, reports, and statistics support library operations. The maker lists Union Catalog Server, Nayanes, Sphinx Search, and MongoDB among its catalog-related integrations and indexing options. Release 9.8.0 adds fuzzy and Sphinx search options and PDF report export. SLiMS is free, open-source software licensed under GPL 3. Source installation is available for GNU/Linux, Windows, and Mac OS, while its Portable SLiMS option is limited to Windows. The listed minimum requirements include Apache 2.4, MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3 or later, and PHP 8.3 with specified extensions.
For and against
For
- Free plan and GPL 3 license.
- Catalog supports cover thumbnails and advanced search.
- Handles loans, returns, reservations, and membership.
- Includes stocktaking, reports, and statistics.
- Source installation supports GNU/Linux, Windows, and Mac OS.
Against
- Portable SLiMS is for Windows only.
- Requires Apache 2.4, a supported database, and PHP 8.3.
- Minimum requirements include PHP GD, gettext, and mbstring.
The verdict
SLiMS combines cataloging, circulation, and inventory functions in a free library-management system. Check the deployment requirements and platform limits against your library's setup before choosing it.
Who it suits
SLiMS suits libraries and librarians looking for catalog, circulation, and inventory tools. It may also fit teams able to meet its stated server and software requirements.
Plans and prices
SLiMS 9.8.0 Bulian D Ace
Open-source library management system; Apache 2.4, MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3+, PHP 8.3
Read 5 Oct 2026 · slims.web.id
On the record
- Audience
- The maker describes SLiMS as a tool for libraries and librarians, with a stated community priority of helping librarians, especially in Indonesia, choose and learn their library-management tools.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Catalog
- Its OPAC supports cover thumbnails and simple and advanced search.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Circulation
- Circulation features include loans, returns, reservations, quick returns, configurable loan rules, and membership management.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- The source code can be installed on GNU/Linux, Windows, or Mac OS; the bundled Portable SLiMS option is for Windows only.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Digital content
- Bibliographic records can include attachments such as PDF, DOC, RTF, XLS, PPT, video, and audio files.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists Union Catalog Server for union catalogs, Nayanes for federated search, and Sphinx Search and MongoDB support for third-party bibliographic record indexing.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Inventory and reports
- SLiMS includes stocktaking, reporting, and statistics features.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- License
- The maker's site footer states that SLiMS is licensed under GPL 3.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Metadata
- The system provides record details in MODS XML and JSON-LD, and OPAC feeds in RSS XML and OAI-PMH Dublin Core.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- SLiMS is a library management system designed to help libraries and librarians manage their work.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Recent search and export features
- Release 9.8.0 adds Fuzzy Search and Sphinx Search options and PDF report export through the integrated mPDF library.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- The homepage lists Apache 2.4, MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3 or later, PHP 8.3, and PHP GD, gettext, and mbstring as minimum requirements.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- Release 9.8.0 describes hardening around uploads, image scraping, attachments, backups, and visitor counts, with stronger output escaping against SQLi, XSS, SSRF, CSRF, path traversal, and unsafe image metadata.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker points users to GitHub, issues, the changelog, and community discussion for support and learning.slims.web.id · read 5 Oct 2026
