The RNN Group (Rotherham College, North Notts College, and Dearne Valley College) has chosen Koha as its new library management system, to replace the previous AutoLib Software Systems solution. PTFS Europe implemented the new system and will provide on-going hosting and support services.

Koha Library Management System

The Koha library management system is a cloud application providing staff and student users with browser access to the system. The system comprises core modules: acquisitions with EDI, circulation, cataloguing, serials and comprehensive reporting functionality. The Koha online catalogue offers end users excellent search capabilities together with a full range of personalisation services. Koha's depth of functionality continues to develop to meet the changing needs of libraries and their users.

Ray Harper, Head of Library Services, said

We chose Koha because it will offer our students and staff a much-enhanced experience when interacting with our online library service.

Koha is a modern, browser-based library management system which has a clear fit with our strategic shift towards blended learning in the college group. Koha enables students to sign in with their college Google account, which makes it easy and simple for them to check which books they have out, renew and reserve items. The interface is very straightforward and accessible, and will make it much easier for students of all abilities to find the content they need in our libraries (whether online or physical). We particularly like the ability to browse bookshelves virtually, which is very helpful as we have had to restrict physical access to the libraries this year due to Covid-19.

The Koha system will also enable us to introduce many other improvements in the future, such as integration with self-service issuing machines and more focused communications with learners. We found the team at PTFS to be knowledgeable, flexible and easy to work with, and we look forward to working with them more in future. We are very excited to be introducing this new service at RNN Group!

RNN Group is delighted to be able to offer our students and staff a better online service that supports our goals as a Group to offer blended learning. This is a really positive step to integrate more online resources as part of our offer to enable students and staff.

Fiona Borthwick, Head of Sales and Account Management at PTFS Europe, said

We are delighted that the RNN Group has chosen to work with us, and we welcome them as new customers. A growing number of Further Education institutions are seeing the benefit of this open source library systems platform. They also join our growing base of Koha customers, particularly in the FE sector, from across the UK and Europe who are hosted and supported by PTFS Europe.

About PTFS Europe

PTFS Europe provides a wide range of products for the library market. These include the open source library systems Koha and FOLIO, RT: request tracker for enquiry management, Coral for electronic resource management, Metabase business analytics and the Knowvation digital repository. An ISO27001 company, PTFS Europe, provides the full range of services needed to implement, host, and support these products.

More information on PTFS Europe: www.ptfs-europe.com

Any questions? Please contact Fiona Borthwick, fiona.borthwick@ptfs-europe.com