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Features

Everything you need to run a modern library, from catalog to community.

Core ILS

Catalog Management

A flexible, modern catalog that handles books, media, equipment, seeds, and anything else your library lends. MARC-compatible with smart metadata enrichment.

  • Multi-format support (books, media, equipment, seeds, things)
  • Automatic metadata enrichment via ISBN lookup
  • Bulk import and batch editing
  • Custom fields and tags for local needs

Smart Circulation

Check-in, check-out, holds, renewals, and fines — all streamlined into workflows that feel natural. Supports barcode scanning and self-service kiosks.

  • One-scan check-out and check-in
  • Automatic hold queue management
  • Configurable fine policies and grace periods
  • Self-service kiosk mode for patron stations

Patron Experience

Patron Portal

A beautiful self-service experience where patrons browse the catalog, manage their account, track reading progress, and discover new titles.

  • Personal dashboard with loans, holds, and history
  • Reading challenges and progress tracking
  • Mood-based browsing and curated picks
  • Family account management

Library Card & Registration

Online registration with digital library cards. Patrons sign up from their phone and start borrowing immediately.

  • Digital library card with QR code
  • Online self-registration
  • Family member linking
  • Notification preferences (email, SMS)

Staff Tools

Staff Dashboard

A purpose-built workspace for library staff. Quick access to circulation, patron management, and daily operations without navigating menus.

  • At-a-glance daily statistics
  • Quick patron lookup and circulation actions
  • Staff task queue and shift management
  • Role-based access controls

AI-Powered

Watson, the Uncommonplace AI assistant

Meet Watson your library's AI assistant. Watson helps patrons discover books, answers reference questions, and gives staff smart recommendations.

Watson AI Assistant

An AI-powered search and recommendation engine that understands how readers think. Watson helps patrons find their next favorite book using natural language.

  • Natural language search ("books like Piranesi")
  • Personalized recommendations based on reading history
  • Read-alike suggestions across genres
  • Reference desk chat assist for staff

Enquire Classification

Automatic subject classification and metadata tagging powered by AI. Reduces cataloging time and improves discoverability.

  • Auto-generated subject headings
  • Genre and mood tagging
  • Reading level estimation
  • Cross-collection recommendations

Community

Events & Programs

Plan, promote, and manage library events. From story time to author visits, track RSVPs and attendance in one place.

  • Event calendar with RSVP management
  • Recurring program templates
  • Attendance tracking and reporting
  • Calendar export (iCal, Google)

The Commonplace

A shared space where patrons post favorite quotes, passages, and reading reflections. Builds community around the love of reading.

  • Quote and passage sharing
  • Community feed with moderation
  • Book club discussion support
  • Reading challenges and badges

Advanced

Collection Intelligence

Data-driven insights to help you grow, weed, and optimize your collection. Understand what your community reads and what gaps to fill.

  • Circulation analytics and trending titles
  • Collection age and condition tracking
  • Gap analysis by genre, subject, and audience
  • Weeding recommendations with replacement cost data

Multi-Branch & ILL

Support for multi-branch library systems and interlibrary loan. Share resources across locations seamlessly.

  • Branch-level inventory and circulation
  • Inter-branch transfer requests
  • ILL request management
  • Consortium-level reporting