Tool profile
PMB: cost, fit and limits
PMB is a free software (logiciel libre) library and documentation center management system, published at sigb.net by PMB Services, that the vendor describes as adaptable to any size or sector and offers with hosted or local installation.
What to know first
The sigb.net site presents PMB as free software for documentation centers and libraries, adaptable to any size or sector, with hosted or local installation examples and client references. The vendor says it has offered support for more than 20 years and mentions a PMB 8.1 release. The page we opened names no license, no price list, no AI feature and no company location, and it is written in French.
PMB at a glance
| Maker | PMB Services, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Quote only |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Library Management Software in 2026, rank 13 of 13 |
| Website | sigb.net/ |
Who PMB is best for
French-language documentation centers
The site is written in French and speaks of documentation centers, so a French-speaking organization can read the vendor's own material without translation.
Organizations that want hosted or local choice
The page shows hosted and local installation examples, which lets a team compare running PMB itself against paying PMB Services for hosting.
Small institutions that avoid license fees
PMB is described as free software, so an association or school can start without a license purchase, then price support or hosting separately.
PMB plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| PMB (free software) | Not published | Free software for libraries and documentation centers, adaptable to any size or sector. The page gives no price and does not name the license. |
| Hosted installation | Not published | The page shows hosted installation examples with clients, but no hosting prices appear on the page we opened. |
| Local installation | Cost of your own server | The page also shows local installation examples, in which the institution runs the software on its own infrastructure. |
Checked November 2026.
What PMB does
- Free software
- The vendor describes PMB as logiciel libre for libraries and documentation centers, so an institution can adopt it without paying a license fee for the program itself.
- Adaptable to any size
- The page says PMB adapts to any size or sector, which suggests the same product can serve a small documentation center and a larger library, though it gives no limits.
- Hosted or local
- Installation examples show both hosted and local deployments, so an institution can choose between buying hosting from the vendor and operating the system itself. The page does not give a hosting price.
- Long support history
- The vendor says it has supported PMB for more than 20 years, which is a claim to test with client references rather than a measured fact.
- Current release
- A PMB 8.1 release is noted on the site, which tells a buyer that the product has recent activity, though the page does not list what changed.
How PMB handles your data
The sigb.net page we opened says nothing about patron data, retention, hosting region, certifications or AI model training, so the vendor's policy was not checked for this. Because PMB is offered as free software with hosted and local installation, where data is stored depends on the chosen option. An institution that picks hosting should ask PMB Services for the data center country, backup schedule, access controls and deletion terms in writing, and one that installs locally takes on those duties itself, including patching the server.
Where PMB falls short in practice
- No license or price on the page. The page names no license and publishes no prices, so the cost of hosting or support is unknown and open source terms must be checked elsewhere.
- Company location is not stated. The page does not say where PMB Services is based, which matters for contract law and data protection when a library chooses the hosted option.
- French-language site. The page is written in French, so teams without French readers need translated documentation or a contact who speaks English before they can assess the product.
Works with
Alternatives to PMB
PMB: common questions
Is PMB really free?
The sigb.net page describes PMB as free software, so there is no license fee for the program. Hosting, installation, training and support may cost money, and the page we opened gives no prices, so ask PMB Services for a quote.
Can PMB be hosted for us?
The page shows hosted installation examples next to local ones. It does not give hosting prices, data center locations or service terms, so ask PMB Services for those in writing before you choose the hosted option. Ask for a sample contract.
Which license does PMB use?
The page calls PMB free software but does not name a license in the text we read. Check the license in the download package or documentation before you modify or redistribute the code. A legal reviewer should read the license text.
Does PMB have an English interface?
The page we opened is written in French and does not state which interface languages the software supports. Ask PMB Services for the list of languages and for English documentation if your staff do not read French. Ask for a demo in English.
Does PMB include AI features?
The page we opened mentions no AI feature. An institution that wants AI help with cataloging should ask PMB Services whether any module exists, what data it would process and whether it runs on the institution's own server. Ask for any reply in writing.