Mandarin - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

Mandarin provides library automation software - its flagship M5 product delivering a fully customizable system deployable on the cloud or on-premise. Built with librarians, for librarians, Mandarin M5 targets modern facilities that demand a centralized approach to managing site services while giving patrons the ability to search extensive book catalogs. Mandarin places keyword and visual search portals online, boasting auto-complete and advanced filtering tools, to assist library visitors, researchers and staff find periodicals quickly. Library resources can therefore be queried from any workstation, at the library site itself or remotely, while management features give librarians all the tools for running day to day operations.

Mandarin's cataloging capabilities include the ability to manage items, whether it be the adding, copying, editing or deleting of book records. Pre-built and custom templates assist this process, offering simpler and more advanced editing modes with picture management, MARC records import/export, plus an included equipment database. Circulation management is then supported with circulation calendars, fine calculators, quick return rules, self check-in/check-out and detailed record histories for items or patrons. Mandarin M5 goes on to include an inventory module for running full or partial checks, while reports facilities also cover the printing of barcode labels, book pocket cards, address labels and more. The system boasts over 900+ pre-formatted standard report templates across circulation, inventory, general operations and statistics, with custom reporting options also available.