Skip to main content
Help Center

Connecting ePlatform to Your Library Management System

Connecting ePlatform to your school’s Library Management System (LMS) allows students to discover eBooks and Audiobooks alongside the physical titles in your library catalogue.

ePlatform can provide catalogue information through a live API integration or through manually exported MARC records.

How the connection works

An LMS connection adds ePlatform catalogue information to your existing library catalogue. This information can include:

  • title;
  • author;
  • ISBN;
  • format; and
  • a discovery or borrowing link that opens the title in ePlatform.

Students can search your library catalogue, find an ePlatform title, and follow its link to access the title through your ePlatform library.

LMS integrations and MARC records manage title discovery. They do not change your ePlatform borrowing rules, loan durations, patron permissions, or loan limits.

Connection options

There are two ways to add ePlatform titles to your Library Management System.

Method How it works Maintenance
Live API integration Creates a connection between ePlatform and a supported Library Management System. New titles can be added and unavailable titles removed automatically through the resource sync.
MARC records Catalogue records are exported from ePlatform and imported into your Library Management System. Records must be exported, imported, updated, and removed manually.

Live API integration

A live API integration creates an ongoing connection between ePlatform and your Library Management System.

Once the connection and resource sync are configured, the integration can:

  • add newly purchased ePlatform titles to your library catalogue;
  • update the catalogue information supplied through the connection; and
  • remove records when the corresponding licence expires.

This reduces the manual catalogue maintenance required and helps prevent links to titles that are no longer available.

API credentials

A live API connection uses a unique Client ID and Client Secret. Contact ePlatform Support to have the integration enabled and the credentials generated for your library.

Keep the Client ID and Client Secret secure. These credentials are used to connect your Library Management System to your library’s ePlatform catalogue data.

MARC records

MARC stands for Machine-Readable Cataloguing. A MARC export creates catalogue records that can be imported into your Library Management System.

MARC records are useful when your LMS does not support the ePlatform live API or when your library prefers to manage catalogue updates manually.

To open the MARC export tool, go to:

Admin area → Integration → MARC Export

Records can be filtered and exported in .mrc or .dat format, depending on the requirements of your Library Management System.

A MARC export is static. If your collection changes, your Library Management System will not update automatically. New records must be imported and records for unavailable titles must be updated or removed manually.

Supported library systems

The repository currently documents live API configuration resources for:

  • Softlink Oliver; and
  • Accessit Library.

Other Library Management Systems may also support an ePlatform connection. Contact ePlatform Support with the name of your LMS to confirm the available integration method.

If a live API integration is available, ePlatform Support will provide the relevant setup information for your system.

Request an integration

  1. Submit a support request or email support@eplatform.co.
  2. Include your ePlatform library name.
  3. Provide the name of your Library Management System.
  4. Confirm whether you want to use a live API integration or MARC records.
  5. Include the contact details of the person coordinating the LMS setup.

If a live API connection is available, ePlatform Support can enable the integration and provide the Client ID, Client Secret, and relevant setup instructions.

Test the connection

Test the connection before making the complete ePlatform collection available through your Library Management System.

Test a live API connection

  1. Complete the resource-sync configuration using the instructions provided.
  2. Search your Library Management System for several ePlatform titles.
  3. Confirm that the expected title information appears.
  4. Open each discovery or borrowing link.
  5. Confirm that the link opens the correct title in ePlatform.

Test a MARC import

  1. Export a small group of five to ten MARC records from ePlatform.
  2. Import the records into your Library Management System.
  3. Search for the imported titles.
  4. Confirm that the title information and cover images appear correctly.
  5. Open each discovery or borrowing link.
  6. Confirm that the link opens the correct title in ePlatform.

Complete a small test before importing the full collection to avoid creating a large number of incorrect catalogue records.

Need help?

If you are unsure which connection is available for your Library Management System, submit a support request or email support@eplatform.co.

Include:

  • your ePlatform library name;
  • the name of your Library Management System;
  • whether you are using the live API or MARC records;
  • the stage of the setup you have reached; and
  • any error message displayed.