Koha pricing

Koha is an open source system, meaning the software is free to anyone to download, install and use.

However, in offering a fully hosted services platform for Koha we aim to solve the practical problems libraries have in actually deploying the Koha LMS. Providing a web-enabled server to run it on, installing and configuring the application, migrating the existing data, training the staff and sourcing the technical skills to support and update the software are non-trivial undertakings for many library operations.

On top of that there are the extra tools, extensions and know-how that only come from detailed experience with the application. Examples of extras we have introduced include better handling for the Internet Explorer V6 browser, global change functions for management of biblio records, tools to load data from spreadsheets, a journals a-to-z style e-list for your electronic journal collections and a "recent purchases" display for the OPAC. When our clients require a new feature we will often implement it without charge if it is of general interest to the community and not an inordinate amount of work.

This, together with your own instance of Koha, shared data link, ongoing upgrades, bug fixes and email support, is covered by a small once-off setup cost and a monthly hosting fee of $100 per month for all but the largest library catalogues. In determining our pricing, a key objective is to keep the basic cost of ownership as low as possible by not charging clients for services which they may not require (one of our libraries has 800,000 plus items in its catalogue incurring additional costs for storage and backup).

If you are migrating an existing catalogue, Koha can import from MARC format records or other sources (a spreadsheet or a tagged export file for example). You are welcome to undertake this task yourself, bearing in mind that you will need to do a certain amount of data cleaning and remapping of fields to ensure a good result. Alternatively, you can commission us to do the data conversion and we will use our tools and experience to merge different data sources and avoid issues such as duplication of bibliographic items in the catalogue. Migration of your existing patrons data is a similar story but less complicated than migrating the catalogue.

In summary, the GST inclusive prices of migrating your existing library management system to Koha are:

Once-off costs

Recurrent cost

Optional services

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