FOR SCHOOLS
The online library catalog for school and classroom libraries, powered by LibraryThing
Designed with Students in Mind
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Simple
TinyCat is a simple, fast, and clean way to manage your small library. Teachers love TinyCat’s easy-to-use interface, including a simple self-checkout system.
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Mobile
TinyCat works with the technology already in your school. Whether a classroom tablet, student laptop, or library computer, you can easily share your library catalog—no download or app required.
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Powerful
Book recommendations and faceted results allow you to fine-tune your catalog to your students' needs. Designate books for specific assignments, reading levels, or any way you see fit using custom tags.
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Enhanced
Your catalog can be enhanced with Dewey Decimal Classification® numbers, series, genres, professional and reader reviews, and more.
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Professional
Manage circulation and allow student self-checkout. Update class lists each year with our complete user import/export. Import and export your library in multiple formats.
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Tested and Trusted
Since 2005, LibraryThing has been the best home library solution, used by more than three million customers.
Since 2016, TinyCat has been the best library software choice for schools, classrooms, community groups, churches, museums, and more.
The Library Catalog
Some of Our Customers
Nolan Creek School empowers K-8 students in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
YOUR Library
Check out your existing LibraryThing catalog on TinyCat.
30-day free trials.
Pine Tree Academy is a co-ed university prep school for boarding and day students in grades K–12.
Meriadoc Homeschool Library is a private subscription-based lending library for homeschooling book lovers in SE Houston.
Rudolf Steiner School of Ann Arbor provides Pre-K through 12th grade students with a Waldorf Education.
School and Classroom Library Management
Your Collection
Import your existing collection, from MARC and other formats.
Copy catalog from over 4,900 libraries and other sources.
Leverage the power of LibraryThing to add tags, covers, and other metadata.
Make your library catalog shine with full series coverage, awards, published reviews, and over two million reader reviews.
Your Online Library
Mobile-ready for tablets and smartphones in the classroom.
Starred Lists can be built and shared for group projects, student reading lists, and more.
True faceted searching, like one of those expensive "discovery systems."
Stable URLs and social media buttons allow library staff and users to share the library anywhere on the web.
Circulation
Simple circulation system designed for small libraries; our simplest circulation mode is perfect for classrooms and other high-trust environments.
Holds, renewals, overdues, reminder emails, circulation exports, and automated reports give you everything you need to track your lending.
Optional student accounts include user sign-in and borrowing history.
Student user accounts can have multiple emails, for students with more than one household.
Testimonials
Classroom Library
"TinyCat is a great solution for teachers managing a class library. Thank you for this valuable tool!"
– Ms. Kreider's Classroom Library
Smiling in the Stacks
"Our TinyCat catalog is always growing and I couldn't be happier. Whether at home or school, it’s a pleasure to use and it’s really satisfying to see the scroll of new books."
– Bridget, St. Aloysius School Library
Danke!
"TinyCat has revolutionized our little school library, and I appreciate very much all the work you put into the system."
For the Love of Reading
"Please thank any and everyone who created TinyCat. I’m going to be able to get so many more books into parent’s hands, and so many more kids will hear stories."
– Anne-Marie, Educare Chicago Library
Easy to Use
"I am a retired school librarian & absolutely love TinyCat. It is easy to use, even for non-librarians."
– Sharon, Childsplay Theater
Mobile Friendly
"I love that I can use TinyCat on my computer, tablet, phone, etc., and I like the prompt response I get whenever I have a question!"
Pricing (30-day free trial)
Volunteer
- up to 1,000 items
$3/month - up to 5,000 items
$6/month - up to 10,000 items
$10/month - up to 20,000 items
$15/month
Paid Staff
- up to 1,000 items
$10/month - up to 5,000 items
$20/month - up to 10,000 items
$25/month - up to 20,000 items
$35/month
Special Pricing
- Email us for more information on group pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
“How does checkout work?”
“Do my students need library cards?”
“Does TinyCat support Fountas and Pinnell or Accelerated Reader Levels?”
“How many students can I have?”
“How do I manage students with multiple households?”
“Is TinyCat done?”
Powered by LibraryThing
Since 2005, LibraryThing has been the leader in home cataloging, but it’s too big, open, and social for small library patrons.
Started in 2016, TinyCat transforms your collection in LibraryThing into a simple and attractive small library catalog. With over 4,900 sources for cataloging information, LibraryThing is a wealth of data for and about your library. TinyCat allows you to share that with your students.
