VuFind Discovery Implementation

Why Separate Your Discovery Layer?

Your ILS is for librarians. Your discovery system is for patrons. VuFind gives you a modern, customizable search interface that patrons actually want to use.

• Works with Koha, Evergreen, Polaris, or any ILS
• Fast, Google-like search experience
• Customizable to your library's branding
• Open source - you own it
• Faceted search (filter by type, author, date, etc.)

Architecture: How VuFind Sits on Your ILS

Your ILS handles: cataloging, circulation, patron management.

VuFind handles: patron search experience.

VuFind connects to your ILS via APIs (Z39.50, SRU, or REST APIs), pulls bibliographic data, indexes it for search, and displays results.

What You Need

• Running ILS (Koha, Evergreen, etc.)
• Linux server (2GB RAM, 10GB disk minimum)
• PHP 7.4+ and Apache/Nginx
• Elasticsearch or Solr for search indexing
• Your ILS exposed via Z39.50 or API

Installation (Quick Version)

cd /usr/local/vufind
git clone https://github.com/vufind-org/vufind.git

cd vufind
composer install
php install.php

For detailed instructions, see the VuFind documentation .

Configuration

1. Connect to Your ILS

Edit config/vufind/ILS.ini to point to your Koha or Evergreen instance via Z39.50 or API.

2. Set Up Search Index

Import your catalog into Solr or Elasticsearch. VuFind includes tools to harvest from your ILS.

3. Customize the Interface

Edit themes to match your library's branding. VuFind uses Bootstrap, so you can customize colors, fonts, and layout.

Key VuFind Features

Faceted Search

Patrons can filter results by: type (Book, DVD), author, publication year, language, and more.

Advanced Search

Librarians and advanced patrons can search by specific fields (title, ISBN, etc.).

User Accounts

Patrons can sign in, see their holds and checked-out items, renew books.

Mobile Friendly

VuFind works on phones and tablets by default.

VuFind vs. Koha OPAC

Common VuFind Issues

• Indexing lag: Changes in your ILS take time to appear in search
• Configuration complexity: VuFind has many configuration files
• Performance tuning: Large catalogs need careful Solr/Elasticsearch configuration

When to Use VuFind

Use VuFind if:

• You want a modern, fast search experience for patrons
• Your current OPAC is slow or outdated
• You want to customize the search interface
• You want faceted search and advanced filtering

VuFind is commonly paired with Koha or Evergreen for libraries that want the best cataloging and best discovery.

Start here

• VuFind Official Site - Documentation and community
• VuFind GitHub - Source code
• Our Methodology - How we evaluate library systems
• Consulting Services - Get professional help

Next Steps

1. Ensure your ILS has Z39.50 or API access enabled
2. Set up Solr or Elasticsearch
3. Install VuFind and configure ILS connection
4. Harvest and index your catalog
5. Customize branding and theme
6. Test with patrons