Special Library Automation for a Digital-First World

Meet SydneyDigital, the digital library system purpose-built for special libraries. Our library automation software keeps your critical information secure, searchable, and accessible to those who need it, without IT dependency.

  • User-friendly OPAC and portals
  • Permissions-based access
  • Single Sign-On (SSO)
  • Federated search across internal and external sources
  • Built-in reporting tools
  • Reduced reliance on IT
City of Regina logo
“SydneyDigital is definitely built for a special library. The solution is made for exactly what we are trying to do; plus, we like the clean, contemporary way it looks and feels.”
Director of Research and Information Services

Am Law 200 Law Firm

“I cannot imagine any other business that would have done so much for me; the Lucidea team provides personalized and proactive services, they listen, and they make it happen.”
Wanda Newton

Director of Library Services, Devereux Advance Behavioral Health

“SydneyDigital is really our single problem-solving venue and streamlines all our back-end administration and technical services procedures—it’s an efficiency engine.”
Library Operations Manager

Global Law Firm

The Request Management dashboard in the SydneyDigital portal model on a laptop

Sophisticated Library Management Software Meets Accessibility and Ease-of-Use

Our solution handles core functions like Library Circulation, Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC), Digital Asset Management, Library Cataloging & Automation, and Serials Tracking and Management, plus advanced features for search, reporting, and customization. Whether you’re managing digital collections or streamlining daily operations, our platform is built to grow with your needs.

Centralize Your Library Operations

Streamline library cataloging (including rapid data entry), circulation, serials, multi-location workflows, barcoding, MARC imports, and more–all within a single venue, whether you manage books, eBooks, documents, images, eJournals, audio-visual media, or born-digital content.

Improve Information Discovery

Enable users to quickly surface critical insights and knowledge, no matter where it originates. Customize your OPAC or portal to search across internal and external repositories, rapidly filter results, and follow visual cues to the information they need—when they need it.

Demonstrate Your Impact

Highlighting the value of your library services is key to your library’s success. Track usage, loans, access history, requests, emerging practices, sectors or subjects, and much more. Easily generate, customize, and export reports for further analysis.

SydneyDigital Supports Thousands of Special Librarians Around the World

The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania logo
“We value Lucidea’s long history serving special libraries, with solutions specifically designed to support library workflow and requirements. As their ILS has developed, it’s gone from good to better to best!”

“[Lucidea’s client services and technical support teams are] easy to reach, easy to talk to, never make you feel foolish for asking a question, and don’t use a lot of technical jargon”

Discover how the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania leverages our digital library system to manage thousands of rare texts and unique artifacts, while allowing access to 150,000 members in Pennsylvania as well as researchers from universities across the country.
Read their story
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Rock-Solid Security

Protect your information with Single Sign-On (SSO) and fine-tuned permission settings. Control access by user role—or even at the content level—to ensure only the right people see the right information at the right time.

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Effortless Request Management

Simplify research requests from start to finish. Capture requests via web forms, email, or manual entry, then assign them to researchers or experts with automated tracking. Build a searchable, reusable database of past requests, responses, and resources.

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Mobile Support

With our digital library system, your information assets are always within reach. Make critical resources accessible anytime, anywhere, so users can search, discover, and access them wherever they are, on any device.

Speak With a Special Libraries Expert

If you’re looking for an ILS that makes it simple to manage, curate, and search a large volume of information assets and content, please get in touch. Our team of experienced special library automation professionals would love to show you how SydneyDigital can help your library remain your organization’s most valuable resource.

Request a demo

Essentia Program

Enterprise-class solutions “right-sized” for your small-but-mighty organization

Believe the power, flexibility, and impact of SydneyDigital is beyond your reach? Lucidea supports clients with enterprise-class integrated library automation software, whether you’re large, small, or somewhere-in-between.

Our Essentia program is designed to deliver outstanding value to smaller clients. Everything you need, at a price you can afford.

ACT NOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR QUARTERLY INCENTIVES. THIS PROMOTION EXPIRES MAY 31, 2025!

Learn more

FAQs

Can I manage physical resources with SydneyDigital?

Absolutely. SydneyDigital offers all the library automation features and functions loved and leveraged by special librarians, including:

  • Library Cataloging: Includes Rapid Data Entry and manual record creation.
  • Circulation: Track and manage circulation and lending as needed.
  • Serials Management: Handle eJournal subscriptions and serial tracking.

Does SydneyDigital provide pre-built workflows for special libraries?

Yes. SydneyDigital provides everything you need from your integrated library system out of the box and is truly configurable to your library’s unique workflows and user needs.

I have a really specific use case in mind–can I customize SydneyDigital for my workflow?

Yes! SydneyDigital adapts to your workflows and priorities, not the other way around. Best of all, there’s no coding required, so you can build user-friendly pages quickly with minimal IT involvement.

Does SydneyDigital integrate with other software I’m using?

Yes, SydneyDigital offers a range of integration options, including:

  • API Access: Connect SydneyDigital to your software (e.g., financial reporting tools) using our flexible API.
  • CSV Import/Export: Easily move and access your data in and out of the platform with CSV files, compatible with Excel.
  • Marc Records Import (MRI): Import MARC records directly from your vendors.
  • Single Sign-On (SSO): Enable secure user authentication.
  • Amazon S3 Integration: Link your Amazon S3 account to host and access large, high-resolution files and images.

Can Sydney Digital integrate with third-party databases?

Yes, SydneyDigital can pass searches to external websites or subscription-based databases, depending on access permissions.

What kinds of multimedia resources can I manage with SydneyDigital?

SydneyDigital makes it easy to manage and share all types of content across your organization, regardless of format or location. This includes:

  • e-Resources, including e-journal routing and issue tracking
  • Images, which can be attached to records and auto-creation of derived images.
  • Video and audio content
  • Documents, including PDFs, Word files, and more—all attachable to records

Does SydneyDigital offer AI?

Yes, we recently introduced AI Search as an optional feature. It’s designed to help users more effectively find and discover relevant content–even if they aren’t exactly sure what to search for.

How long has Lucidea served special librarians?

We’re the original “special library specialists”! Lucidea began as a library management software provider over 35 years ago and we continually upgrade our products to provide everything you need from your ILS/LMS.

What technology is SydneyDigital built on?

SydneyDigital is built on LucideaCore–which is the culmination of 35 years’ worldwide experience serving thousands of organizations in multiple industries, combined with intensive R&D. LucideaCore applications help information professionals manage and deliver valuable, user-friendly information resources driven by a powerful engine that improves curation, discoverability, and access.

How secure is your library software?

Yes, our digital library software safeguards your institutional knowledge by providing you with full control over who can access it. We support SSO, and granular permissions settings by user, role, or content type – even down to the field level.

Lucidea is also proudly SOC 2 Type II compliant. Our team is dedicated to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our clients’ data with multiple layers of security, redundant systems, and continuous monitoring.

Does SydneyDigital support multilingual capabilities?

Yes, oui, sí! SydneyDigital can be configured to support multiple languages for both interface and cataloging and is fully Unicode compliant.

What support does SydneyDigital offer?

SydneyDigital provides access to a support team, an on-demand self-service training portal with videos and manuals, and one-on-one customized training.

How does SydneyDigital handle data migration?

SydneyDigital supports data migration from existing systems, preferably in CSV or MARC format.

What are the hosting options for SydneyDigital?

SydneyDigital can be vendor-hosted or self-hosted, with data centers available in Canada and the United States.

What types of libraries use SydneyDigital?

We support a large range of special libraries and knowledge centers, including medical libraries, law libraries, corporate libraries, associations, heritage organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, professional services firms, and many more.

May I speak to one of your existing clients?

Absolutely! We have a large network of long-term library clients who can offer references. Reach out to us and we’ll introduce you to a SydneyDigital user in your sector or location.

How can I evaluate which integrated library system is right for me?

Finding the perfect ILS for your organization requires thorough due diligence. At Lucidea, we love to help our clients and prospects feel totally confident in their choices and believe long-term partnerships with mutual benefit are the best kind! We’ve put together some materials on vendor and product selection, including this free eBook: Find the Perfect ILS: How to Evaluate Your Options.

Can I manage physical resources with SydneyDigital?

Absolutely. SydneyDigital offers all the library automation features and functions loved and leveraged by special librarians, including:

  • Library Cataloging: Includes Rapid Data Entry and manual record creation.
  • Circulation: Track and manage circulation and lending as needed.
  • Serials Management: Handle eJournal subscriptions and serial tracking.

Does SydneyDigital provide pre-built workflows for special libraries?

Yes. SydneyDigital provides everything you need from your integrated library system out of the box and is truly configurable to your library’s unique workflows and user needs.

I have a really specific use case in mind–can I customize SydneyDigital for my workflow?

Yes! SydneyDigital adapts to your workflows and priorities, not the other way around. Best of all, there’s no coding required, so you can build user-friendly pages quickly with minimal IT involvement.

Does SydneyDigital integrate with other software I’m using?

Yes, SydneyDigital offers a range of integration options, including:

  • API Access: Connect SydneyDigital to your software (e.g., financial reporting tools) using our flexible API.
  • CSV Import/Export: Easily move and access your data in and out of the platform with CSV files, compatible with Excel.
  • Marc Records Import (MRI): Import MARC records directly from your vendors.
  • Single Sign-On (SSO): Enable secure user authentication.
  • Amazon S3 Integration: Link your Amazon S3 account to host and access large, high-resolution files and images.

Can Sydney Digital integrate with third-party databases?

Yes, SydneyDigital can pass searches to external websites or subscription-based databases, depending on access permissions.

What kinds of multimedia resources can I manage with SydneyDigital?

SydneyDigital makes it easy to manage and share all types of content across your organization, regardless of format or location. This includes:

  • e-Resources, including e-journal routing and issue tracking
  • Images, which can be attached to records and auto-creation of derived images.
  • Video and audio content
  • Documents, including PDFs, Word files, and more—all attachable to records

Does SydneyDigital offer AI?

Yes, we recently introduced AI Search as an optional feature. It’s designed to help users more effectively find and discover relevant content–even if they aren’t exactly sure what to search for.

How long has Lucidea served special librarians?

We’re the original “special library specialists”! Lucidea began as a library management software provider over 35 years ago and we continually upgrade our products to provide everything you need from your ILS/LMS.

What technology is SydneyDigital built on?

SydneyDigital is built on LucideaCore–which is the culmination of 35 years’ worldwide experience serving thousands of organizations in multiple industries, combined with intensive R&D. LucideaCore applications help information professionals manage and deliver valuable, user-friendly information resources driven by a powerful engine that improves curation, discoverability, and access.

How secure is your library software?

Yes, our digital library software safeguards your institutional knowledge by providing you with full control over who can access it. We support SSO, and granular permissions settings by user, role, or content type – even down to the field level.

Lucidea is also proudly SOC 2 Type II compliant. Our team is dedicated to maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our clients’ data with multiple layers of security, redundant systems, and continuous monitoring.

Does SydneyDigital support multilingual capabilities?

Yes, oui, sí! SydneyDigital can be configured to support multiple languages for both interface and cataloging and is fully Unicode compliant.

What support does SydneyDigital offer?

SydneyDigital provides access to a support team, an on-demand self-service training portal with videos and manuals, and one-on-one customized training.

How does SydneyDigital handle data migration?

SydneyDigital supports data migration from existing systems, preferably in CSV or MARC format.

What are the hosting options for SydneyDigital?

SydneyDigital can be vendor-hosted or self-hosted, with data centers available in Canada and the United States.

What types of libraries use SydneyDigital?

We support a large range of special libraries and knowledge centers, including medical libraries, law libraries, corporate libraries, associations, heritage organizations, nonprofits, government agencies, professional services firms, and many more.

May I speak to one of your existing clients?

Absolutely! We have a large network of long-term library clients who can offer references. Reach out to us and we’ll introduce you to a SydneyDigital user in your sector or location.

How can I evaluate which integrated library system is right for me?

Finding the perfect ILS for your organization requires thorough due diligence. At Lucidea, we love to help our clients and prospects feel totally confident in their choices and believe long-term partnerships with mutual benefit are the best kind! We’ve put together some materials on vendor and product selection, including this free eBook: Find the Perfect ILS: How to Evaluate Your Options.

SydneyEnterprise logo
Need more information? Our team of special library automation experts would love to show you how SydneyDigital can support you, your team, and your users.
Request a demo
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