Welcome to CS Library Kiosk
A secure, automated library kiosk system built for the Computer Science Department at Southern Connecticut State University. This touchscreen-enabled kiosk allows students to browse the catalog, check out books, view their borrowing history, and return items - all without manual paperwork.Quick Start
Get the kiosk up and running in minutes
Installation Guide
Complete setup instructions for deployment
Core Features
Learn how to use the kiosk features
API Reference
Technical documentation for developers
Key Features
Student-Friendly Interface
The kiosk features a beautiful, space-themed interface with intuitive navigation designed for touchscreen interaction. Students can complete checkouts in seconds.Real-Time Catalog
Browse the complete library catalog with:- Paginated grid layout showing 12 books per page
- Real-time availability status
- Search by title or author
- Book cover images and metadata
Smart Checkout System
Scan ISBN barcodes to:- Check out multiple books in one transaction
- View cart with due dates before confirming
- Automatic 14-day loan period
- Instant inventory updates
Self-Service Returns
Return books with a simple barcode scan:- Instant status confirmation
- Automatic overdue calculations
- Visual feedback for successful returns
My Books Dashboard
Students can:- View all active loans with due dates
- See overdue items highlighted in red
- Renew books directly from the interface
- Access complete borrowing history
Automated Metadata Retrieval
When a new ISBN is scanned, the system automatically:- Queries the Open Library API
- Retrieves title, author, and cover image
- Caches data locally for future lookups
Technology Stack
Frontend
NiceGUI with Tailwind CSS for a modern, responsive interface
Backend
Python 3 with FastAPI and async/await for high performance
Database
SQLite3 with bcrypt for secure password hashing
Hardware Integration
The kiosk is designed to run on:- Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB RAM minimum)
- 7-inch touchscreen display
- USB barcode scanner for ISBN and Student ID scanning
- Ethernet connection for network reliability
Built for SCSU
Developed as part of the SCSU Computer Science Capstone project to modernize the CS Department student lounge library and provide a better experience for students accessing technical resources.The system replaces manual paper checkout slips with automated tracking, real-time inventory management, and instant book metadata lookup.