Tool profile
SLiMS: cost, fit and limits
SLiMS (Senayan Library Management System), in its SLiMS 9 Bulian release, is a free, GPL-3.0 licensed library management program for circulation, membership and stock taking of books, journals and digital documents, maintained by a community on GitHub and run by the library on its own server.
What to know first
SLiMS 9 Bulian is distributed as source code on GitHub under the GPL version 3, with a Docker setup started by a single docker compose command. It requires PHP 8.1 or later and either MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3. No price, support tier, hosting service or AI feature appears on the repository page, so the library carries installation, updates, backups and security itself.
SLiMS at a glance
| Maker | SLiMS community (slims GitHub organization; no legal entity stated), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free (GPL-3.0 license) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Library Management Software in 2026, rank 12 of 13 |
| Website | github.com/slims/slims9_bulian |
Who SLiMS is best for
Small libraries with a technical volunteer
The Docker setup and clear PHP and database requirements suit a library where one person can run a server and keep it updated.
School and community libraries with no budget
The software is free under GPL-3.0, so cost is limited to the server and the time of whoever maintains it.
Libraries that want the source code
Because the code is public on GitHub, a library or contractor can inspect it, adapt it and avoid dependence on a company that might change terms.
SLiMS plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| SLiMS 9 Bulian | Free | Source code under GPL-3.0 with a Docker setup. Requires PHP 8.1 or later and MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3. |
| Self-hosting costs | Cost of your own server | Not part of SLiMS itself: the library supplies the server, database, backups and updates. The repository page lists no hosting service or price. |
| Vendor support | Not offered on the page | The repository page lists no support tier or price, so help comes from the community or a contractor the library chooses. |
Checked November 2026.
What SLiMS does
- Circulation and membership
- The program covers circulation and membership, which handles check-out, returns and patron records for a library that lends books, journals or digital documents. Reports are not itemized on the page.
- Stock taking
- Stock taking is listed, so a library can check its shelves against the catalog, which is a routine task for school and community libraries at year end.
- GPL-3.0 source code
- The code is licensed under GPL version 3 and published on GitHub, so libraries can read, modify and share it under the license terms. Anyone can check what the program does.
- Docker setup
- A Docker setup is started with docker compose up -d --build, which lets a technical person bring up a test installation quickly before deciding to commit.
- Stated requirements
- The page lists PHP 8.1 or later and MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3, so an IT person can check a server against them before installation begins.
How SLiMS handles your data
SLiMS is software that a library runs itself, so the repository page contains no data handling policy, and where patron records live is decided by the person who installs it. Retention, backups, encryption and access control depend on that installation, and the page names no certification. AI features are not part of the software. The Copilot references on the page belong to GitHub. A library should plan its own backup schedule, restrict database access, keep PHP and MariaDB patched and decide how long borrowing records are kept.
Where SLiMS falls short in practice
- You run the whole stack. The library operates the server, database and updates, so staff time or a contractor is a real cost that the free license does not remove.
- No support or hosting listed. The repository page lists no vendor support tier, hosting service or price, so a failure means searching community resources or paying an outside technician. Budget for that cost before choosing.
- No AI and thin documentation on the page. The repository page names no AI feature, and the page describes setup rather than modules, so librarians should test a demo installation before relying on it.
Works with
Alternatives to SLiMS
SLiMS: common questions
Is SLiMS free to use?
Yes. The repository describes SLiMS 9 Bulian as free software under the GPL version 3, so there is no license fee. A library still pays for a server and for the person who installs updates and keeps backups. Budget for that work.
What does SLiMS need to run?
The repository states PHP 8.1 or later and either MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3, with an optional Docker setup. Check your hosting plan against those versions, because shared hosting that is stuck on older PHP may not work. Ask your host to confirm versions.
How do I install SLiMS with Docker?
The page says to start it with docker compose up -d --build from the repository. That is enough for a test installation. Before using it with real patron records, plan database backups and secure access to the server. Test restores before going live.
Does SLiMS offer hosted service or support?
The repository page lists no hosting service, support tier or price. A library has to run the software itself or find a contractor, and should ask any contractor to write down update, backup and security duties. Write down who owns each duty.
Does SLiMS include AI features?
No. The repository page says AI features are not part of the software and the Copilot mentions belong to GitHub. A library that wants AI assistance with cataloging would need a different system or a separate tool. Plan for that gap.