Library Management Web Application

A web application for a local library to manage books, members, and transactions. This project allows the librarian to track books, issue and return books, and manage rental fees with ease.

Table of Contents

• Features
• Tech Stack
• Prerequisites
• Setup
• Screenshots
• License

Features

The Library Management System includes the following functionalities:

1. Books Management

   • Add new books, update book details, delete books, and manage stock.
   • Search for books by title or author.

2. Members Management

   • Add, update, and delete members.
   • Track member details including name, email, phone number, and rental debt.

3. Transactions

   • Issue books to members and record the transaction.
   • Handle book returns and charge rental fees.
   • Ensure members’ outstanding debt does not exceed KES 500 before issuing a new book.

4. Rental Fee Management

   • Automatically charge fees upon book return based on rental duration.

Tech Stack

• Backend: Django (Python)
• Frontend: HTML, CSS, Bootstrap
• Database: SQLite (for development), Postgres/MySQL (for production)
• Deployment: Yet to be deployed

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8.10
• Django
• Virtual Environment (venv)

Setup

To run the project locally:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone [email protected]:Nyae44/django-library-management.git
   cd django-library-management

2. Ensure Python version 3.8.10: Make sure you have Python 3.8.10 installed. You can check your version with:

   python --version

   If you don't have Python 3.8.10 installed, you can install it or use a version manager like pyenv to set it up.

3. Create a virtual environment:

   python3 -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

4. Set environment variables: Create a .env file in the root of the project and add the following:

   SECRET_KEY=your-secret-key
   DEBUG=True  # Or False in production

5. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

6. Run migrations:

   python manage.py migrate

7. Create a superuser (for the admin panel):

   python manage.py createsuperuser

8. Run the development server:

   python manage.py runserver

9. Access the application:

   • Go to http://127.0.0.1:8000 in your browser to view the library management system.
   • Go to http://127.0.0.1:8000/admin to access the Django admin panel.

Screenshots

1. Books Management

• Add, update, or delete books with stock tracking.

2. Members Management

• View, add, or update member details. Track their outstanding rental debt.

3. Issuing a Book

• Issue a book to a member, with the option to manage due dates and rental fees.

4. Returning a Book & Rental Fee Calculation

• Return a book, automatically calculating and applying rental fees.

5. Search for Books

• Search books by title or author.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.