Getting Started

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Welcome to Alexandria! We're glad we could join you in your mission to create a wonderful library experience for your patrons.

What's next?

I need to set up Alexandria.

My Alexandria is already set up. I just need to learn how to use it!

Accessing Alexandria

Set Up

Cloud-Hosted

Libraries that are Cloud-Hosted save time and resources by letting COMPanion host your data. We perform daily archives and backups and handle all updates.

Registration is automatic. COMPanion will email you your Alexandria URL, username, and password. With these, you can log in and immediately start managing your library. Check out our Getting Started Guide for Librarians for guidance on setting up preferences, importing patrons, adding items, and more.

Self-Hosted

Self-Hosted libraries host their own data and are responsible for setting up and maintaining their installation and operations, including backups.

COMPanion will email you with instructions and links to important files for installing Alexandria. See our Self-Hosted Guide for Admins for instructions on installing on Windows or macOS, information on client and server communications, and guidelines for performing backups. Once installation is complete, look through our Getting Started Guide for Librarians for guidance on setting up preferences, importing patrons, adding items, and more.

Introduction

Welcome, welcome! This video series will get you acquainted with Alexandria's interfaces and capabilities. Feel free to follow along in our Basic Training Guide as well.

Librarian

Librarian is the management side of Alexandria where librarians and staff can check out books, manage patron and item records, customize settings and preferences, run reports, and much more.

Circulation

Perform general library activities such as issuing books, placing hold requests and reservations, processing fees, fines, payments, and renewing books in Circulation.

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Items Management

Create, view, modify, or remove records that contain information on all assets that circulate (books, magazines, audio, video, media) in your library within Items Management.

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Patrons Management

Create, view, modify, or remove records that contain information about the users (i.e. patrons and operators) at your site/school/library within Patrons Management.

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