Koha LMS for NHS and health libraries
Last updated on: 19th March 2026| 16th January 2026 | Open Fifth | Koha
Koha is an open source library management system (LMS) used by over 18,000 libraries globally across all sectors. In this webinar, Andrew Auld, account manager for our health and NHS libraries, shares an overview of how the Koha LMS has been used to transform health library workflows across the UK, creating more efficient processes and making resources easier to access. Andrew also shares about Metabase for deep data analysis and reporting.
About Koha LMS
Koha is world’s most widely used open source LMS. As open source software, there are no licence-fees or vendor lock-in. Libraries can choose whether they want to self-host their systems or work with a company for hosting and support.
Development and maintenance of the software is undertaken by over 40 service companies worldwide, including Open Fifth, as well as committed libraries, individual contributors and testers who collectively form the Koha community.
Koha LMS features
- Scalable, fully featured library system that suits libraries of all sizes and sectors.
- User-driven, with requirements for new features and enhancements coming from libraries that use it.
- Stable, lightweight web-based system on both the staff and user sides, responsive across device types.
- Easy to use with intuitive navigation.
- Highly customisable appearance with consistent display configurations.
- Administration requires little or no IT involvement when choosing a hosted solution with Open Fifth. We’ll implement your data migration, system integrations and updates.
- In-depth online help available from the Koha community, public resources from Open Fifth and other organisations.
- Accessible on both staff and user interfaces.
- GDPR compliance is supported, with options for data auto-deletion as well as data anonymisation and pseudonymisation.
- Supports multi-factor authentication (MFA) for secure account access.
Koha LMS integrations
Koha integrates fully with third-party suppliers and there are extensive hardware and software options available. For libraries working with Open Fifth, we are experienced in implementing a wide variety of integrations and will support you in setting up integrations during migration.
Here are some of the software integration options available:
- Self-issue terminals
- Entry gates
- Import of patron data from registry or HR system
- SMS notification sent via SMS gateway provider
- E-content providers
- Online payments
- Financial systems
- CLA permissions plugin
- Export scripts – e.g. JISC Discover
- Single Sign-On (SSO) (Azure AD, Shibboleth, etc.).
Koha LMS consortial configurations
Due to Koha’s scalability, it is suitable for small, single-librarian libraries up to large consortia, such as in public library or health library contexts. At Open Fifth, we support several regional consortial library systems. Administration and settings can be configured across the consortium or per branch, including:
- Library groups (users, reservations, searching)
- Circulation rules
- Notices
- Calendar
- Branches limitation
- Management of budget and funds.
Koha LMS for NHS and health libraries
The vast majority of NHS libraries in England now use Koha across consortial systems and there are many health libraries outside of these that use Koha too. If your health library is new to Koha, you will be joining many libraries and library teams who have gone through the same experiences and have knowledge and tips to share, including dedicated Koha health library user groups. This strength in numbers also gives opportunities for co-investment and co-design in new feature developments.
We have been supporting health libraries for over a decade here at Open Fifth. In that time we have built up a lot of knowledge and understanding about how health libraries work and their specific needs, particularly at critical stages like data migration as well as ongoing support. Examples of our experience include:
- Health-related ebook integration
- Health-related resource discovery (e.g. BMJ Best Practice), via LMS or integrations
- Wessex subject headings in authorities.
Interlibrary loans
A significant development from NHS libraries using Koha is the interlibrary loans (ILL) native Koha module, with work funded by NHS England. This enables automated inter-lending with specified sources and systems (e.g. Printdocs, Reprints desk, INCDocs), configured to prioritise source order for fulfilling loans. As open source software, when new Koha features such as these are released, they are available to all Koha libraries globally with no additional costs or paywalls. In the webinar, Andrew demonstrates the simple steps for a user to raise an interlibrary loan request, and the staff interface for managing ILLs.
Koha also has an ‘Article Request’ feature which allows users to request specific articles, helpful for independent or research libraries.
Electronic resource management (eRM)
Koha’s eRM module allows for managing and keeping track of licences and multiple online packages, with a live bidirectional link to EBSCO’s knowledge base by API for libraries who use it, and usage statistics via SUSHI. Future developments planned for this module include cost-per-use data to easily capture this important information for e-resource usage.
Reporting
Koha’s database is fully open, with all data available to be reported on, an in-built report builder, and there is a Koha SQL Reports Library maintained by the Koha community.
For further reporting needs, we also support Metabase, the advanced business analytics platform, which works seamlessly with Koha. Metabase can harness data from multiple sources and create impactful graphics and visualisations that are shareable and updated in real-time for reporting and understanding user engagement.
To learn more about what Koha LMS and Open Fifth can do for your health library, reach out to Andrew Auld ([email protected]).
Featured image: Cyathea dealbata by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
