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
Setting up Alexandria will be different depending on how you've chosen to host your data.
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.
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.
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.
Tools
In Tools, you'll find convenient shortcuts to various tools that help you run reports, do inventory, customize bulletins, and more.
Preferences
Configure global settings that customize Alexandria according to your library's needs in Preferences.
Researcher
Researcher is the patron-facing side of Alexandria that contains various search interfaces, virtual bulletin boards, and customizable links.
Researcher for Librarians
Researcher for Patrons
Resources
- Email lists
- Sign up to receive our Tip of the Week emails.
- Subscribe to our monthly newsletter
- Releases Upcoming
- Getting Started Resources
- Barcode Your Collection
- Beginning-of-Year Procedures
- End-of-Year Procedures
- Does your library also use Textbook Tracker? Check out that Support Center.
Newsletter
Video Directory/YouTube channel
Workshops/webinars
Resources page
Getting Started Resources
Customer Support