Hospice libraries provide comfort through books.
Patients and families borrow books about grief, caregiving, end-of-life, and finding peace. Volunteers manage small collections, typically ranging from 50 to 300 books.
You need simple software to track who borrowed what. Here's what works.
Why hospice libraries are different
Most hospice lending libraries are tiny. Run entirely by volunteers with zero budget. Books are lent for 30-60 days in high-trust environments where everyone knows the librarian.
You don't need enterprise library software. You need something a volunteer can learn in 10 minutes.
Google Sheets: The simplest start
A spreadsheet is the simplest option. Create columns for Title, Author, Borrowed By, Phone Number, and Date Due. Share it with other volunteers through Google Drive.
- What it costs
Free.
- The good parts
Learn it in 5 minutes. Works on any device. Multiple volunteers can access it. Customise however you want.
- The not-so-good parts
Everything is manual. Easy to accidentally delete rows. Gets messy past 50 books. No automatic overdue reminders.
- Best for
New hospice libraries with fewer than 50 books, or for testing if you actually need software before committing.
Librarika: Free but feature-heavy
Librarika is free library software that many hospices use. It's web-based and designed for small organisations with no budget. They make money from schools, so hospices get it free.
You get a comprehensive cataloguing and circulation system, including patron accounts and an online catalogue that allows families to conduct searches. It includes email reminders for overdue books and reports on what's being borrowed.
- What it costs
Actually free. No catch.
- The good parts
Everything in one system. Works in any web browser. Families can search the catalogue online. Multiple volunteers can log in.
- The not-so-good parts
You manually type in all book details. There's a learning curve - it's designed like a full library system with lots of features to navigate. Support is email-only. Volunteers often need a few training sessions to feel comfortable with all the options.
- Best for
Hospice libraries with 100+ books that want proper library software, have zero budget, and don't mind spending time learning a more complex system.
Libib: Beautiful but requires a paid version for lending
Libib is a cataloguing software with a clean, modern interface that's popular among home libraries. You can scan book barcodes with your phone, and the details fill in automatically.
The free version allows you to catalogue up to 5,000 books, but here's the catch: you need the Pro version ($9/month or $99/year) to track who has borrowed what. The free tier is primarily intended for cataloguing your collection, rather than lending it out.
- What it costs
Free for cataloging only. $9/month for circulation features you actually need.
- The good parts
Beautiful mobile apps. Barcode scanning works brilliantly. Very easy to learn. Can catalogue books, DVDs, and CDs. Cloud-based so that you can access it from anywhere.
- The not-so-good parts
The Free version doesn't include the checkout features you need. $108/year might be beyond volunteer budgets. Manual entry for older books without barcodes.
- Best for
Hospice libraries with newer books that have barcodes and a small budget for $9/month.
YourBookNest.com: Built for tiny lending libraries
Full disclosure: I built this one. YourBookNest.com is designed specifically for small lending libraries, rather than trying to be everything to everyone. It focuses on essentials: tracking checkouts and due dates without overwhelming volunteers.
You add your books, check them out to borrowers, and see who has what and when it's due. It works on any device with internet and requires no installation.
- What it costs
Free for collections under 100 books. £40/year for larger collections.
- The good parts
Dead simple to learn - volunteers can start using it in minutes. A beautiful, modern interface that doesn't resemble software from 2005. No barcode scanner needed. Works on phones, tablets, and computers. Designed for high-trust environments like hospices. Perfect for volunteers with no tech background.
- The not-so-good parts
Basic compared to full library systems. No barcode scanning. Limited to essential features only (which is the point, but worth knowing).
- Best for
Small hospice libraries (30-100 books) where simplicity matters most and volunteers need something they can learn immediately.
TinyCat: Professional but pricey for small hospices
TinyCat is library software designed specifically for tiny libraries. It's been around since 2016, and hundreds of volunteer-run organisations use it.
You catalogue books in LibraryThing, and TinyCat creates a searchable library website with complete circulation management. It includes patron accounts with borrowing history and email overdue reminders.
- What it costs
$3/month for volunteer libraries (no paid staff, under $1,000 budget).
- The good parts
Built specifically for volunteer libraries. Online catalogue families can search. Works on all devices. Imports book data automatically, so you don't have to type everything.
- The not-so-good parts
Two systems to learn (LibraryThing for cataloguing, TinyCat for circulation). $36/year adds up for volunteer budgets - steeper learning curve with more features than tiny hospices typically need.
- Best for
Larger hospice libraries (200+ books) who want a professional system and can afford $3/month.
How to choose the correct option
Think about your actual situation, not what you imagine you might need someday.
- Under 50 books?
Google Sheets. Don't overcomplicate it.
- 50-100 books?
YourBookNest.com (free) or Google Sheets. Choose based on whether you want something that looks more professional.
- 100-300 books?
This is where it gets interesting. You could use Librarika (free, but complex), YourBookNest.com (free for under 100 items), or Libib Pro ($9 per month). Pick based on budget and whether barcode scanning matters. If simplicity is your priority, consider paying for Libib Pro rather than struggling with Librarika's learning curve.
- Over 300 books?
TinyCat ($3/month) or Librarika (free). TinyCat is easier to learn but costs money. Librarika is free but more complicated.
- Absolutely zero budget?
Librarika (any size) or YourBookNest.com (under 100 books). Both are genuinely free.
- Have $3-9/month?
TinyCat ($3/month) or Libib Pro ($9/month). More features and better support than free options.
What hospice libraries actually need
Not what university libraries need.
You don't need barcode scanners, MARC records, Dewey Decimal classification, fine management, or complex patron permissions.
You need to know who borrowed which book, when it's due back, and a phone number to call if it's overdue. That's it.
Special considerations for hospice libraries
Hospice libraries face unique situations that your software should handle gracefully.
- Long loan periods
Books are often borrowed for 60 days instead of the standard 14 days. Most software handles this fine; simply change the default due date.
- Families may not return books
If someone dies and the book is not returned. This is normal and expected. Your software should let you easily mark books as "lost" without complicated procedures.
- Small, rotating collection
Books get donated, books get worn out, books disappear. Choose software where adding and removing books is quick and easy.
- Volunteer turnover
Hospice volunteers come and go. Pick software that's simple enough that you can train a new volunteer in 15 minutes.
- No budget for anything
Most hospice libraries run on donations. Free software isn't just nice - it's essential.
Start simple and upgrade only if needed
Select the simplest option based on your collection size. Most small hospice libraries would do well to start with Google Sheets and see how they manage before investing in additional resources.
You can always upgrade later if needed. Your book data isn't trapped - most software lets you export to CSV.
Don't spend months researching. Pick one this week and start lending.
Final recommendation
- Most hospice libraries (50-300 books)
Start with YourBookNest.com if under 100 books, or consider whether you want to invest time learning Librarika's more complex system for free, or pay $9/month for Libib Pro's simplicity.
- Under 50 books
Google Sheets. Seriously. It works fine.
- Want to look professional and have a tiny budget
Libib Pro at $9/month is straightforward to use.
- Larger hospice libraries (300+ books)
TinyCat at $3/month is worth it for the features you get.
Your books offer comfort during life's most challenging moments. The software should never be the hard part.
Pick something simple, start tracking checkouts, and spend your energy on the people you're serving.
