5 Steps on the Journey to a New Library Management System

Is your current library management system having trouble coping with the exciting challenges your knowledge center staff face? Is a new library management system the answer? If so, Softlink IC believes Liberty is the system for you. It will meet your current and future needs. But we do understand you might want to do a bit of research and evaluation before you take our word for it!

5 Easy Steps to Digitization in Your Library

The digital revolution has transformed the way we access and interact with information. For libraries, knowledge and information centers, this revolution presents a unique opportunity to extend their reach and impact. By digitizing your collection, you can make your resources more accessible and relevant in today’s digital world. Follow these five easy steps to successfully start digitizing your library.

Welcome to a New Era: Liberty Digital Unleashed

Softlink Information Centers is excited to introduce Liberty Digital, an innovative platform set to redefine the landscape of library and archive management. Launched at our recent Virtual Open Day on May 30, 2024, Liberty Digital joins our suite of products, which includes Liberty (an Integrated Library System or ILS) and illumin (a research and reference management tool). The best news of all? It’s available now for your library or archive, read on to find out more! 

Liberty Link: The Key to a 24/7 Library in Your Pocket

In today’s digital era, libraries are adapting to new technologies to enhance their services and user engagement. Softlink IC’s mobile app Liberty Link is designed to provide easy access to your Liberty catalog directly from your mobile device.

7 Ways Law Libraries Save Law Firms Money

Fechter & Company - Accounting

Law libraries accommodate all manner of resources, both digital and physical, to help lawyers in their research. More and more, law firms are relying on the internet, online databases, and web-based services for research, but there is still a need for physical publications.

Top 3 Tools Libraries Use for Patrons With Visual Impairment

Active noise control - Earbuds

It is easy for most of us to walk into a library and search for a resource, use a computer, or read a journal. However, doing so is not always easy for those with a visual impairment. How accessible is the library’s information to those users?

A Day in the Life of a Legal Librarian

Kelley Bocell Legal Librarian

See how Vinson & Elkins built a centralized, searchable resource portal for 800 attorneys — and gave their research team the data to prove their department’s value.

5 Library System Features You Could Be Using (But You Probably Aren’t)

Today, most special libraries and archives aren’t taking full advantage of their current library management systems. Not because the tools aren’t there, but because it’s time consuming to explore everything between daily tasks like urgent research requests, maintaining compliance, or supporting internal projects.

Avoid the ‘What Happened to the System?’ Moment: Your OPAC + Administration Portal Launch Plan

Rolling out a new system (OPAC – Online Public Access Catalogue; and Administration Portal) is more than just switching on a new interface and managing it via the staff portal. For many users, the system is the entire library and its operations – it’s the complete solution, the everyday resource management platform, and the system they rely on to run public library operations. So, there needs to be a smooth transition between old and new public library management software – not a disruption.

Highlights from Our 2025 User Group Meetings in Brisbane, Melbourne & Wellington

Each year, we bring our community together through our User Group Meetings (UGMs) – one of our favourite ways to connect with customers, share updates, and celebrate the innovation happening in libraries. In October 2025, the Softlink IC team hosted UGMs across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Wellington, bringing together professionals from every sector to learn, collaborate, and discuss what’s next for Liberty Digital and illumin.

How to Make Research Faster with Filters, Search, and Pinned Views In illumin

A Knowledge and Research Management System helps research teams organize their workflows efficiently, reducing time spent searching for information and increasing productivity. Softlink IC’s illumin, provides features such as filters, advanced search, and pinning views so teams can streamline their research workflows, track requests, and surface the insights that matter. Here’s a closer look at how these features help research teams work smarter.

Why You Should Always Encourage Patrons to Explore Digital Archives First

In today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s essential for corporate, legal, government, and special libraries to encourage teams and stakeholders to explore digital archives first for smarter, more secure, and more efficient research. With solutions like Liberty Digital, you can collect, preserve, and provide long-term access to digitized or born-digital materials, making critical information available anytime, anywhere. Whether it’s case files, reports, policy papers, or multimedia records, digital archives offer a searchable, organized alternative to physical files – saving time and supporting better discovery. Promoting these resources early helps staff find what they need faster, reduces wear on physical collections, and meets modern expectations for on-demand access and compliance.

Top Research Team Tools: How illumin and Onelog Save Time and Boost Efficiency

Research professionals face constant pressure to deliver accurate, timely insights under tight deadlines. From managing requests to juggling tools and tracking outputs, the real challenge isn’t just doing the work, it’s doing it efficiently. Success now depends on doing more with less and streamlining tasks to drive results.

Then vs. Now: How Research Libraries Are Powering Discovery with Liberty Digital and illumin

Research libraries have always been centers of knowledge and innovation, but the role they play today is vastly different from what it was even a decade ago. As the research landscape grows more complex, combined with rapid digital transformation, traditional systems can no longer keep up. To meet these demands, research libraries are transforming. Integrated solutions such as Liberty Digital and illumin, replace outdated systems with flexible platforms purpose-built for today’s knowledge and research management needs.

Effective Library Management for Health Libraries – A Guide to Increasing Usage

Your health library’s homepage is often the first point of access for clinicians, researchers, or students, and a strong digital presence is essential. Without effective visibility, even your most valuable digital resources can go unnoticed. Here’s how Softlink’s effective library management strategies can help your library shine.

Ensure Security and Privacy in Your Library System

In today’s digital age, security and privacy in library systems are paramount. This guide gives an overview of key security practices in libraries and information centers and how they can safeguard their data and resources.

AI in Libraries: Revolution or Risk? The Pros and Pitfalls Explained

In a world driven by technology, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries, including libraries, information centers, and research teams. While AI streamlines processes, enhances accuracy, and delivers analytics, it also introduces challenges such as data privacy concerns, bias, and the risk of over-reliance on technology. Remember before using AI in your library, information or research center, check your organization’s policies and guidelines, especially when working with sensitive data.

Tidy Up Your Library: 7 Simple Steps for a Clean Catalog

cluttered computer screen in need of a tidy-up

Over time, even the best-maintained systems can benefit from a little spring cleaning. Tidying up your library management system (LMS) is a great way to keep things in top shape. While data cleanup might sound like a big task, it’s easier than you think – and crucial for ensuring your system runs efficiently.

Power Up Your Library with These 6 Tools: The Ultimate AI Toolkit for Librarians

AI robot showing a bright light

The AI revolution isn’t just knocking on the library door—it’s already browsing the shelves! More and more, librarians are uncovering cutting-edge ways to harness AI’s transformative power. From managing vast information resources to assisting patrons with precision, AI tools are redefining library operations. Ready to level up your library’s game? Let’s explore some of the game-changing AI tools we’ve found that every forward-thinking librarian should have in their toolkit.

5 Things You Didn’t Know Your Library System Could Do

Integrated Library Systems (ILS) have come a long way and our ILS, Liberty, is at the forefront of this evolution. Over the years, Liberty has introduced many innovative features designed to make managing your library’s resources easier and more efficient.

Revolutionizing Law Libraries – Essential Features of Library Management Tools

In the ever-evolving landscape of legal libraries, the integration of advanced library management software is emerging as a crucial element in modernizing these knowledge hubs. With legal professionals grappling with increasingly complex research demands, selecting the right Integrated Library System (ILS) is becoming essential. This blog explores seven key features of an ideal law library management system.

Discovering Your Ideal ILMS: Key Factors to Consider

Four people holding large pieces of a puzzle

In today’s digital age, libraries are constantly looking for ways to enhance their efficiency and productivity. One solution that is a proven winner is the adoption of an Integrated Library Management System (ILMS).

Scanning for Success: How Using QR Codes Can Transform your Library

Montage of QR codes

Are you ready to bring your library to the next level? Look no further than QR codes! As we embrace the digital age, libraries are constantly exploring innovative ways to showcase their services and collections to patrons. These nifty little squares can instantly connect patrons to a wealth of information about the library or knowledge center, events, collections, and so much more – all with a simple scan from their smartphone.

Does Your Library or Research System Provide Integration Options?

Integrating a library management or request and research system with third-party solutions can have a huge impact on efficiency and user experiences. Liberty Digital and illumin offer a wide range of integrations to help manage resources, requests and research.

Lift Your Library to New Heights: 5 Reasons to Use Library Management Systems

5 reasons to use a library management system

Library Management System (LMS) software is an effective solution to help companies manage their corporate content with ease, granting access to a diverse collection of research material, eBooks, manuals, journals, documents, and books. But why should businesses purchase LMS software? This blog will provide you with five great reasons why an LMS can be beneficial for organizations of any size!

5 Things You Didn’t Know Your Library System Could Do

Integrated Library Systems (ILS) have come a long way and our ILS, Liberty, is at the forefront of this evolution. Over the years, Liberty has introduced many innovative features designed to make managing your library’s resources easier and more efficient. Here are five interesting capabilities of Liberty that you might not be aware of:

Queensland Museum Chooses Softlink IC’s Liberty

Queensland Museum Building

The Queensland Museum recently chose Softlink Information Centres’ (Softlink IC) Liberty as their integrated library software. Liberty offers a variety of features to the museum library such as a discovery and federated search, mobile app, multi-factor authentication and the capability to perform OCR on PDF files. This certainly ticked all the boxes for the museum library’s needs!

Exploring the World of Parliamentary Librarians

Libraries are some of the most exciting places to work, and as a librarian, you get to use a variety of skills every day. In this blog series, we’ll look at the types of skills and knowledge necessary for working in a library, knowledge or resource center. And we’ll showcase some specific sectors where you’re bound to find a librarian! We’ll start off with the work librarians do in a parliamentary setting. So, if you’ve ever wondered about working in a library, keep reading to learn more about the skills you’ll need to succeed!

4 Ways to Secure and Protect Your ILMS – Part 2

Part 2 of the Secure and Protect blog

In part 1 of our last blog post we looked at how Softlink IC protects our products. Part 2 of this blog will show you how you can secure and protect sensitive data, documents and resources or modules in Liberty.

4 Ways to Secure and Protect Your ILMS – Part 1

Part 1 of the Secure and Protect blog

Library Management System (LMS) software is an effective solution to help companies manage their corporate content with ease, granting access to a diverse collection of research material, eBooks, manuals, journals, documents, and books. But why should businesses purchase LMS software? This blog will provide you with five great reasons why an LMS can be beneficial for organizations of any size!

5 Essential Productivity Hacks for Your Library

Navigating the intricacies of an Integrated Library System (ILS) is second nature to you, mastering tasks like cataloging, circulation, and managing patron records. But what if there’s a way to elevate your library’s efficiency to the next level? Let’s explore five productivity hacks that could redefine the way you manage your library’s operations.

Fill Your Library with Digital Content!

It’s no secret libraries are evolving, the 21st century is all about digital content in your catalog! Increasingly, libraries are focused on managing digital information. Not only is data increasingly being produced in digital format, more and more people expect access to information anywhere, anytime. Softlink IC’s Liberty Digital can bring your newly digitized content and other electronic files to life for your users with an easy to navigate homepage you can get to anytime, anywhere.

Secrets & Keyboard Shortcuts …Are You Paying Attention?

University of North Carolina Greensboro - Computer Science

If you’re baking, using shortcuts might not always result in a perfect cake.

But, for busy library staff, an integrated library management system (ILMS) with lots of keyboard shortcuts is the way to get the results you want quickly. They make navigating to different screens and functions very efficient. Did you know your Liberty ILMS provides lots of shortcuts?

Tips and Treats – Craft a Carousel

Christmas - Image

Last, but by no means least, we come to the fourth and final blog in our Tips and Treats series. In this series, we’ve looked at changes you may have been meaning to do for a while, followed by a holiday treat. The holiday period, when many of your users are on a short break, is a great time just do them!

Tips and Tricks – A Vibrant Video

Christmas - Stock photography

The holiday season only comes once a year. As we mentioned in our earlier blogs in this series, it can also be a great time, while many of your users are on a short break, to tackle some of the changes you’ve been meaning to do for a while.

Holiday Tips and Treats – Simplify Your Search Box

Christmas - Image

The holiday season comes but once a year and for our Liberty users, there’s all those end-of-year tasks to complete. But while many of your users are on a short break, it can be a great time to tackle some of the changes you may have been thinking about for a while.

Legal Librarians Love Current Awareness

Supreme Court of Lithuania - Crime

Legal librarians manage a diverse set of information requirements from a diverse range of staff. It’s why they love an efficient and effective way to automatically inform their firm’s staff of the latest information of interest. A current awareness service (CAS) is necessary tool in their kit of user focused services.

OAI-PMH the Library Protocol Everyone is Talking About

The game of Scrabble™ is nearly finished, you’re left with HPQOAPMI and no triple word or triple letter options. That’s why you have a love/hate relationship with it! How are you supposed to come from behind and beat your opponent with those letters? Softlink IC has the solution!

3 Ways to Make New Employees Love Your Library

Senlin Ascends - How to Read a Book

Your integrated library management system (ILMS) fits everyone’s needs like a glove. You’ve ensured access to the library’s dynamic homepage is easy and honed your outreach processes. As a result, the organization’s existing staff recognize the library as the invaluable asset it is and are already love and support the library.

Access LinkedIn Learning™ Through Your Liberty Library

Published November 12, 2021

The range of resources and services today’s libraries offer continues to expand. As well as the usual digital materials, audio books and access to online databases, many now offer free access to online learning databases like Mango™ for learning languages.

Another online learning database Liberty libraries are offering is LinkedIn Learning. It is an easy to access, comprehensive online learning database. It delivers benefits for the organization and the organization’s staff. Better yet, it reinforces the library as central to the access of information and learning, and now LinkedIn Learning integrates with Liberty.

Reference Interviews – Time and Cost Expensive or Not?

The reference interview is neither a new concept nor a rarely applied process. It is a valuable tool in the research specialist’s skill set to ensure they understand exactly what information their customer requires. But, sometimes the “interview” is undervalued by those who seek the research specialist’s assistance. Many find the “barrage” of questions asked of them to be time expensive. However, the benefits of a reference interview are significant. The relatively short amount of time required to answer some targeted questions reduces the time a researcher needs to find and retrieve the right information.

Is Your Current Awareness Service the Best it Can Be?

Human - Current Awareness Service

The digital era is resulting in less direct physical interaction between library staff and the library’s users. Current Awareness is an increasingly ‘must have’ feature any integrated library management system (ILMS) as an effective way to keep the library, its staff, and services front and center in the minds of existing and future users.

How to Promote Your Library to Your Target Audience

create - Online advertising

Think of the major brands that are recognizable by their logo, their color scheme, the product they sell, and the message they deliver. Then think about whether your library is recognizable to your users and non-users in the same way. If not, you need to consider how you “brand” your library.

Top 5 Library Management System Features You Can’t Live Without

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While Softlink IC’s integrated library management system (ILMS), Liberty, is chock-a-block with brilliant features, the 5 most popular library management system features of all time are a mixture of unsurprising but commonly required functionality in an ILMS, and a couple that are unique to Liberty.

How to Source eBooks for Your Library

Are you wanting to increase your library’s eBook offerings? You’re not alone. Libraries are increasingly offering digital as well as hard copy resources. EBooks are just one of a wide variety of eresources that are an increasingly common offering in all types of libraries, from specials to public. But where can librarians, who want to provide more eBooks to their users, buy them?

Magisterial Services Library Goes Live With Liberty

Image - Stock photography

In late April, Papua New Guinea’s Magisterial Services Library installed Liberty to meet their need for a fully web-based integrated library management system (ILMS). Last week they completed training and are looking forward to working smarter with Liberty. Softlink IC is delighted to welcome them and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.

I Never Knew I Could Do That!

Illustration - Speech

The Liberty library management system is feature and functionality packed. So much so that many of these features can slip your memory! So we thought a few tips and reminders of a selection of time saving and effective functionality might be useful!

For Librarians, Sharing Knowledge is Sharing Power

Stock photography - Photograph

It’s hard to imagine a time when most of us could not, relatively easily, access information. There was a time, when all the general population knew only what was told to them by those in positions of power. For those in power, controlling information, and therefore knowledge, was what kept them in their position. Fortunately, for many of us, times have changed!

Discovering Your Ideal ILMS: Key Factors to Consider

In today’s digital age, libraries are constantly looking for ways to enhance their efficiency and productivity. One solution that is a proven winner is the adoption of an Integrated Library Management System (ILMS). However, choosing the right ILMS can be a daunting task. In this blog, we will explore the key factors to consider when discovering your ideal ILMS.

6 Reasons Our Cloud-based Library Management System is the One

Library - Digital library

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty! There are library management systems (LMSs) and then there’s our Liberty cloud-based library management system. And, by the way, it’s been fully cloud-based for eons. Every LMS does the basics. Softlink IC’s Liberty takes those basics to a whole new level. Then there’s the ‘love to have’ features, many that have come standard for years. Bit of a trailblazer really.

Why Replace Your Legacy Library Management System?

Floppy Disk - Data

A surprising number of library and knowledge centers still use legacy library software. Yes, it may still work, but times have changed. New technologies and user expectations are making it increasingly risky to hang on to your old, custom built, or legacy library management system.

Are You Getting Real Value from Your Library Home Page?

Graphic design - Digital display advertising

Are you taking the fullest advantage of your Liberty library management system (LMS) Home page? We know investing in library software to manage and promote your collection and services is significant, so getting real value is crucial!

Liberty Makes Managing Copyright Obligations in the Digital Era Easy

Copyright - Intellectual property

Technologies grow in complexity. The number of digital collections in libraries is expanding. Managing the copyright obligation of those resources is a significant task for library staff. Liberty, Softlink IC’s library management system (LMS), includes a Copyright module. It is designed to make it easier for library staff to manage copyright obligations.

Got Satellite Collections? Manage Them with Liberty Link

Mobile device - Smartphone

Softlink Information Centres’ mobile app Liberty Link helps our Liberty customers easily manage their satellite collections. No need to travel to the “remotely” located material to check their status. No increase to the library staff’s already heavy workload.

Reference Interviews – Time and Cost Expensive or Not?

Interview - Job interview

The reference interview is neither a new concept nor a rarely applied process. It is a valuable tool in the research specialist’s skill set to ensure they understand exactly what information their customer requires. But, sometimes the “interview” is undervalued by those who seek the research specialist’s assistance. Many find the “barrage” of questions asked of them to be time expensive. However, the benefits of a reference interview are significant. The relatively short amount of time required to answer some targeted questions reduces the time a researcher needs to find and retrieve the right information.

Appraisal Institute Solves Business Challenges With Liberty and illumin

Beard - M. Moustache

The Appraisal Institute, based in Chicago, is a global association of professional real estate appraisers, with 19,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide. The Institute funds and operates the Y.T. and Louise Lee Lum Library, which provides members with reference services in all areas of real estate appraisal.

Library Software – Making Libraries Accessible to Everyone

Communication - Education

Just as we have the right to freedom of action and expression, we should have the right to gain knowledge. This means making knowledge accessible to everyone. Our levels of physical or learning ability, should not bar us from accessing knowledge.

How live chat can benefit librarians!

Providing real-time support is an important part of customer service for all companies. The emergence of the live chat feature by library software vendors is making customer support even more effective. It provides their customers with the advantage of access to real-time support without having to wait on the phone, or wait for an email reply to a query.

How Software Can Help Support the Changing Role of Academic Librarians

Like many industries, new technologies have resulted in the implementation of significant change. The academic library is no exception. The academic library is no exception. Academic librarians are re-thinking their management of collection, curation, and acquisitions. As a result, changes to the librarian’s role are dramatic.

Mobile Apps in the Law Library

Library - Software

Released as Library Link in 2013, Softlink’s enhanced mobile app for libraries has been renamed Liberty Link, and we are excited to be bringing it you for ALLA 2018!

Plan Before You Scan: Considerations for launching a digital archive project

The American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR)’s new photo archive project aims to bring a collection of 30,000 photos documenting the archaeological and cultural heritage of the Middle East to the public eye. But where do you even begin to digitize 30,000 slides, negatives, and prints?

ACOR is one of the many diverse libraries who use Softlink’s Liberty library management system. In 2016 they were awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Education through the competitive American Overseas Research Centers grant program which will support the ACOR Library Photographic Archive. As a guest blogger for Softlink, Corrie Commisso, Senior Archival Consultant for ACOR, shares her experiences with launching the digital archive project.