Circulation is the process of checking books and other materials in and out of a library. Transportation libraries with print and digital collections may use an online catalog to check out materials, provide the user with a return date and keep tabs on the circulation status of every item in the collection (checked out or on the shelf). For some transportation libraries, an online catalog is maintained by a partner agency, while others are members of a statewide shared catalog. Transportation libraries with very small physical collections may opt to maintain a card catalog and monitor use of the collection manually.
Some libraries maintain a library management system (also known as an integrated library system) to track circulation and manage day-to-day handling of the library’s collection. These systems can be complex, full-featured commercial systems with sophisticated reporting options from companies such as Ex Libris, SirsiDynix and Innovative Interfaces.
Open source options are also available, including:
Transportation libraries may also use databases or other tools developed in-house to track the movement of items into and out of physical collections.
Source: Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division