--- title: Free software for board game libraries Metadescription: Compare free software for a board game library - Libib, LibraryThing, BoardGameGeek, Google Sheets and purpose-built tools for small lending libraries. Display description: You run a board game library at your church, community centre, or local gaming group. You've got 30-100 games that people borrow. author: Dan Edwards author_role: Founder author_url: https://danedwardsdeveloper.com author_linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-edwards-developer published: 2025-10-27 --- Token estimate: ~1,300 # Free software for board game libraries By **[Dan Edwards](https://yourbooknest.com/contact)**, Founder. You run a board game library at your church, community centre, or local gaming group. You've got 30-100 games that people borrow. You need to track who has what. And you don't want to spend money on complicated software. Here are your actual options. ## Libib Libib lets you catalogue books, movies, and board games all in one place. The free version holds up to 5,000 items. You scan barcodes with your phone, and it automatically pulls in the game information. Board game support is still in beta, so you'll need to enter some games manually. But once they're in the system, other Libib users can scan them too. What it costs: Free for cataloguing. $9/month for checkout features. - **Pros** Barcode scanning works well, clean simple interface, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and can mix games with books and movies. - **Cons** Checkout and patron management require the paid Pro version, board game database still being built, and not specifically designed for lending. Best for: Small libraries that want barcode scanning and don't mind paying $9/month for checkout features. ## LibraryThing with TinyCat LibraryThing started as a personal book cataloguing site. TinyCat turns it into a small library system. It handles board games, though you'll mostly enter them manually. The focus is really on books. What it costs: Free to try. TinyCat subscriptions start around £120/year for small libraries. - **Pros** Full circulation system included, patron accounts and holds, works for collections under 20,000 items, and been around since 2005. - **Cons** Not cheap if you need circulation, better for books than board games, steeper learning curve, and manual entry for most games. Best for: Small libraries that primarily lend books but also have some games. ## BoardGameGeek Collection Manager BoardGameGeek is the Wikipedia of board games. Their collection tools are built into every user account. You can track your games, log plays, and see statistics. The database is massive and incredibly detailed. What it costs: Completely free. - **Pros** Best board game database anywhere, huge community, tracks plays and statistics, and free forever. - **Cons** Not designed for lending libraries, no checkout system, no patron management, and really built for personal collections. Best for: Personal collections or tracking what games you own, not for lending to others. ## Google Sheets The simplest option: make a spreadsheet. Three columns: Game Name, Borrowed By, Date Due. What it costs: Free. - **Pros** Zero learning curve, works on any device, completely customizable, and no account needed. - **Cons** You do everything manually, no automation, easy to mess up, and gets messy fast with 50+ games. Best for: Tiny collections of 20 games or fewer where you know everyone by name. ## Simple library software for small collections Some library software is built specifically for small lending libraries rather than trying to be everything to everyone. These focus on the basics: tracking items, who borrowed them, and when they're due back. What it costs: Free for collections of 100 items or fewer. - **Pros** Simple checkout process, works on any device, no barcode scanner needed, and actually designed for lending. - **Cons** No BoardGameGeek integration, doesn't track play statistics, and not for personal collections. Best for: Community centres, churches, or groups lending 20-100 games who just need to know who has what. ## How to choose Under 20 games, and everyone knows everyone? Use Google Sheets. Don't overthink it. Want to catalogue your personal collection and log plays? BoardGameGeek is built for this. Need barcode scanning and you're willing to pay? Libib Pro at £9/month gives you proper circulation. Mainly lending books, but have some games? LibraryThing with TinyCat handles both. Lending 20-100 games and want something simple? Look for software designed specifically for small lending libraries. ## What most people get wrong They pick software designed for university libraries with 100,000 books. Your church library with 50 board games doesn't need cataloguing standards, barcode labels, or fine management. You need to know: Who has Catan? When is it due back? That's it. ## Start simple Pick the option that matches your actual situation. You can always switch later if you need more features. But most small game libraries discover they need less than they thought. The best system is the one you'll actually use.