Circulation, reimagined.
Scan without a scanner. Loan without an app.
A great library shouldn't be held back by hardware. So we rebuilt Circulation from the ground up. Cleaner to look at. Faster to use. Now with camera scanning, class list pick, interlibrary loans, and a self-checkout system built for a real school library. Available now in every SmartSuite Library subscription.
A circulation desk
that's actually
a joy to use.
Built for speed. Student search is instant, loan history is right there, and the whole workflow takes seconds - not minutes.
- Instant student search - type a name or scan a barcode
- Full loan history and overdue status at a glance
- Loan and return from the same clean screen
- One-click bulk loan for class sets from the trolley
- Works on any device - no app, no install required
Your phone is now a barcode scanner.
Your camera is now a kiosk.
The camera on the device you already have is now a barcode scanner. It runs in the browser. No app to install. No hardware to buy. No IT ticket. Lose power at school? Lose internet on the main desk? Grab your phone, and keep circulating. Your library never has to close.
"I like the sound of the camera back-up feature."
SmartSuite Librarian
A self-checkout your students actually enjoy using.
Cleaner interface, cleaner workflow, and one massive change: your students can scan books using the tablet's own camera. No scanner needed. No app to install. No IT ticket. If you have a tablet, you have a kiosk.
"This is fantastic if you want to run a kiosk just with a tablet. No more scanners needed for your students."
SmartSuite Librarian
One scan.
Every item in the kit.
One scan to get it back.
Catalogue every item in a kit - camera, bag, lens cover, cable, SD card - then link them all to one master barcode. At the desk, scan the master once. SmartSuite Library loans every sub-item as a single loan and produces a picklist so nothing gets missed. Return works the same way: scan once, check off what came back. Anything missing stays on the borrower's record item by item.
Pick a name, not a card.
Every class at your fingertips.
No more paper rolls. No more asking students to fish out their ID card. Load a class or homeroom group and tap the student's name - the loan records against the right account instantly. Faster for you. Faster for them. Less embarrassing for the kid who lost their card again.
"Yes! Excellent point!"
SmartSuite Librarian, on class list pick
Print a receipt.
Right from the desk.
SmartSuite Library prints directly to receipt printers - no driver install, no third-party software, no fussing with print settings. Hand the student a slip with every book, the due date, and a return barcode. Done in one tap.
Alerts that stop you.
Toasts that let you keep going.
Sometimes an alert should stop everything. A patron with overdues. A note the librarian needs to see. That is the "Alerts" mode, clean, focused, one at a time. Sometimes you just want to keep scanning. That is the new "Toast" mode, the message pops up on the side and you keep going. Two modes. Your call. Set it per staff member.
Stops circulation. One message. Requires action before continuing. Used for overdues, notes, and blocks.
Pops up on the side. Circulation keeps going. Ideal for busy desks where you want awareness without interruption.
"Being able to keep scanning books because the barcode reader presses continue is the problem for students and parents not paying attention. I love that they won't be able to keep scanning."
Sandi | SmartSuite Librarian
Scan a book.
Accidentally make someone's day.
When a borrower is loaded and today is their birthday, SmartSuite Library knows. Confetti fills the screen. Happy Birthday plays. The kid at the desk gets a moment they weren't expecting - and you didn't have to do a thing.
Works for every borrower - students, staff, and parents. If SmartSuite has a birthday on file, it celebrates it.
Overdue notices that
know when school is out.
Set your school's term dates once. SmartSuite Library automatically pauses all overdue SMS and email notices during school holidays - families are never chased over the break.
Renewals & reservations are included too - students renew loans or place holds directly through the student portal, from any device, any time.
Your collection is bigger
than your shelves.
SmartSuite Library's interlibrary loan system lets schools in your network share resources. A student requests a book your library doesn't own - SmartSuite Library finds it at another school, arranges the transfer, and tracks the loan end to end. No spreadsheets. No phone calls.
Circulation that
runs itself.
Three features that make your library faster, fairer, and less stressful for everyone.
Students run their own loans.
- Built for both primary and secondary schools
- Override barcode resolves any issue instantly - like a supermarket checkout
- Auto-email receipt with full loan summary and due-back dates
Handle disputes fairly - and on the record.
- Frees the borrower's loan limit immediately so they can keep borrowing
- Transaction shown in a distinct colour - repeat offenders visible at a glance
- Custom note field, plus control over overdue email and SMS inclusion
One scan. Every item in the kit.
- One barcode loans the entire kit as one loan count
- Return prompts a check-and-tick for every item in the kit
- Missing items stay against the borrower · broken kit reports included
Everything else, handled.
SmartSuite Library's circulation covers every workflow a school library needs - out of the box, at no extra cost.
Students and staff renew loans through the student portal or at the desk - no librarian intervention needed.
Place holds on any item. Automatic notification when the book is returned and ready for collection.
Auto-email receipt sent for every loan - full item list, due dates, and return instructions included.
Set loan limits by year level, borrower type, or individually. Override at the desk without changing the rule.
Configure different loan periods per resource type, borrower group, or year level. Overrides available at the desk.
Export overdue lists filtered by class, year level, or teacher. Share with admin or home group teachers in one click.
Ready-made posters and desk cards, waiting in Print Studio.
Every school with SmartSuite Library gets Print Studio. And our design team has already loaded a full suite of posters and desk cards for the new Circulation. Guides for your borrowing kiosk. Tips for your circulation desk. Return workflows. Self-checkout instructions. All customisable in your school's colours. All editable in Print Studio.
These posters live in Print Studio. Log in to SmartSuite Library, then head to Menu > Perks & Prints > Print Studio to open, customise, and print.
Who benefits?
Everyone. But here is what it means for each person in the room.
Teacher-Librarians
Faster circulation. Fewer awkward moments at the desk. A self-checkout you can actually leave running. And a class list pick that saves you thirty barcode scans every visit.
Classroom Teachers
Send a class to the library and know they'll come back with the right books, on the right accounts, in the right amount of time. No paperwork on your end. No overdues coming back to you.
Students
Scan your own books. Borrow with your class. Get a receipt if you want one. Get confetti on your birthday. The library, for you, faster.
Circulation this good is only in SmartSuite Library.
Camera-first scanning, class list pick, and interlibrary loans are all built on the same platform that powers ACARA-Sync, SmartSearch, Discovery, and Print Studio. Every feature works together, every day, in every SmartSuite Library subscription. That's the power of SmartSuite Library.
Circulation - FAQs
Do I need to buy any new hardware to use the new Circulation?+
Does the camera scan work on older tablets?+
What happens if the internet drops during circulation?+
Can I still use my existing barcode scanner?+
What's the difference between Alerts and Toasts?+
Do students see anything different in self-checkout?+
What is Interlibrary Loans?+
Are the Print Studio posters free?+
What if I want to give feedback on the new Circulation?+
How much does the new Circulation cost?+
See the new Circulation in your library.
Book a demo. We'll walk you through the new Circulation with your team, on your setup.
Book a Demo →