Frequently asked questions

Communico’s pricing is based on your service population (for public libraries) or registered student population (for academic libraries). This scalable model allows us to offer the full platform with unlimited access and no usage caps.

We host our services on Amazon Web Services (AWS), and your instance is hosted in data centers located within your country to ensure compliance with local data requirements.

We’ve designed our infrastructure with reliability and redundancy in mind. All systems are backed up regularly, and we utilize AWS’s high-availability architecture with automatic failover mechanisms. This means that in the unlikely event of an issue in one data center, services will seamlessly shift to another—helping to prevent outages and ensure continuous access for your staff and patrons.

Yes! No need to host anything onsite – we’ve got that covered!

Our team continuously enhances existing modules and regularly releases improvements to ensure peak performance, security and usability. We also take pride in our ongoing innovation, consistently introducing new modules to meet the evolving needs of libraries.

Yes. When you partner with Communico, our expert implementation and support teams will work closely with you and your staff throughout the entire process. We provide comprehensive training to ensure everyone feels confident and fully equipped to use each module effectively from day one.

We offer standard SLAs with different response time depending on severity.  A full outline can be found here.

Yes. We’re committed to delivering an experience that is fully accessible to all your customers so accessibility is a core priority in all our products. Our in-house accessibility experts continuously monitor evolving regulations and best practices to ensure our platform remains compliant and inclusive.

Communico can currently integrate via API with Koha, Symphony, Horizon, Sierra, Polaris, Millenium, and Evergreen and via SIP2 with other providers like TLC, Apollo, Verso, and more.

We aim to make the onboarding process smooth, efficient, and tailored to your needs. Our dedicated implementation specialists will guide you every step of the way. While the average timeline from kickoff to launch is approximately 12 weeks, we’re flexible and will adjust the pace to match your team’s comfort and capacity. You can access our detailed onboarding timeline guides here.

Yes! We can aid in migrating your data from your current event and room reservation platform(s) to help make the transition easier without any worry of lost data.

Communico offers some of the most robust permission levels on the market allowing you to control which staff members are allowed to see and perform specific tasks throughout all our modules.

No! Anyone can use Create to build a beautiful website – no coding experience required!

Yes! Create (and the rest of the platform) can be customized to include your unique look, feel, and branding throughout your website, mobile app, self-service kiosks and more.

Yes. You can use your own domain whether you choose to build your website using Create or if you’re using our other modules like Attend, Reserve and Schedule.

Yes, we will cover the hosting fees and your SSL certificates all including in your annual subscription costs.

Yes. Accessibility and responsive design are built into every aspect of our platform. Our website builder includes integrated accessibility checkers, allowing you to easily monitor compliance as you create and update your site.

Yes. You can create brand new or update content on existing pages and set a publish date that works with your schedule.
 

Events and registrations are managed directly within your Communico Control Panel. With customizable workflows and robust permission settings, you can easily create, publish, and oversee events from one centralized place.

Yes, customers can register for events from the web, Connect mobile app, and Interact self-service kiosks. Staff may also register customers for programs and events via Roam, our staff mobile point of service module.

Yes! Communico offers a seamless integration with Zoom for all virtual or hybrid appointments. Reserve your virtual space the same way you would a physical one - no additional work by staff required and customers automatically receive their Zoom invite via email in their confirmation and reminders.

Yes. We offer a fully automatic waitlist feature that will move and notify the next person in line to registered status if space becomes available.

Yes. You can create events as either one-off programs or recurring daily, weekly, monthly.

Staff can reschedule and cancel events as required and will be noted as such on the customer-facing calendar. Customers are notified via email and text message about any changes to the events.

Yes. Our powerful reporting module makes it easy to organize, filter, and export data on attendance and registrants. You can also schedule custom reports to be automatically delivered at intervals that work best for you.

Yes, you can decide if library cards are required for all events or turn the option on and off on an event-by-event basis.

No. You can have as many spaces as you need whether bookable by the public or staff only.

Yes! Customers can reserve rooms and equipment to accompany their reservation from the web, Connect mobile app, Interact self-service kiosks, and by staff on their behalf via Roam, our staff mobile point of service module.

Yes. You can customize rules and time limits for each room, including variables like booking duration, frequency, advance notice, user type (e.g., non-profit vs. for-profit groups) and more.

Yes! You decide if your rooms are mediated or unmediated. Mediated spaces require staff review to either approve or decline the request and unmediated spaces will be automatically approved assuming the customer has not met any booking limitations.

Yes. Library card requirements can be enforced globally, for specific user groups (e.g., non-profit vs. for-profit groups) or specific rooms.

Yes. Customer usage can be tracked by either requiring a library card or an email address.

Yes. We have door lock integrations with several providers allowing you generate unique codes that only work and grant access at the time and throughout the duration of the reservation. 

Yes! You can have different fees for your spaces based on the room type, user group reserving the space, or customize your fee structure on a room-by-room basis. 

You can collect reservation fees through multiple methods. Credit card payments can be accepted at the time of booking or later via our “pay later” option. In-person payments are also supported, giving you full flexibility in how fees are processed.

You may use Schedule to allow customers to book an appointment with any person, place or thing!

Yes. You may have an unlimited number of appointment categories all with varying rules and availability.

Customers may book an appointment via the web, Connect mobile app, Interact self-service kiosks, and/or by staff via Roam, our staff mobile point of service module.

Yes. Customers are automatically reminded of their appointments via email, text and/or push notifications via our Connect customer-facing mobile app.

Yes! Our reporting module allows you to export all the data you need on demand or by scheduling your reports to be delivered on the frequency of your choosing.

Some use cases include passport and notary services, curbside pickup, book a librarian, tutoring, test proctoring, makerspace labs and more.

Yes! We have a seamless integration with Zoom allowing for you to offer your appointment services in person, virtually, or allow the customer to select what works best for them with a hybrid option.

Broadcast displays all your custom content including static slides, videos and dynamic widgets.

Yes. Even while packed with amazing features, Broadcast is incredibly user-friendly and easy to use.

Yes. You can schedule content to display at specific dates and times, with the ability to customize messaging for each individual screen based on its location.

Broadcast supports static, video and animated content across an unlimited number of screens.

We’re completely hardware agnostic. You can connect any screen with a built-in browser or use affordable devices like a Fire Stick, Raspberry Pi, or Chromebit. This makes Broadcast a flexible and cost-effective solution with no expensive equipment required.

Of course! You can create unlimited shows with custom slides or use dynamic widgets that automatically update to showcase your latest programs, events and services keeping your content fresh and engaging.

Yes. You may set start and stop dates for all your slides allowing you to proactively add new content without worrying about it displaying before you’re ready or any longer than you need.

Yes! Connect is customized with your branding throughout the entire app allowing your unique style to shine!

Connect is one of the most feature packed library mobile apps on the market. Connect offers seamless integration with other Communico modules such as Attend, Reserve and Schedule. Additionally, customers may browse and place holds via your catalog on physical and e-content, pay fines and fees, sign up for a new library card, manage multiple accounts with multi-card login, check out physical items directly from the app and more!

Connect is compatible with Koha, Symphony, Horizon, Sierra, Polaris, Millenium, and Evergreen.

Yes!

Yes. Connect allows for internal (where possible) and an unlimited number of external links to be included in your app.

Yes! Connect offers two kinds of push notifications: Transactional and Global. Transactional notifications include your item is ready for pickup or is overdue and room, event and appointment reminders. Global notifications allow staff to schedule or immediately send notifications to all app users.

We support different languages for all your actionable buttons within your app making it more accessible and user-friendly for all your customers regardless of their native language.

Roam allows staff to perform a multitude of both customer-facing and circulation tasks from wherever they are. Staff can manage checking in/out items, locate items and place holds, new account signup, event registration, room reservations, schedule appointments, manage existing customer accounts, and more all from a mobile device.

Roam is compatible with any iOS or Android device.

Yes! Staff has a full overview of the entirety of a customer account from Roam.

No! Roam is completely unlimited so you may have as many users as you need across all your locations.

You have control over which staff members can access Roam. Staff can also set a pin to ensure if the device is misplaced no one can access the application without it.

Yes! Roam is perfect for outreach. It allows your staff to perform nearly all in-branch functions like check-ins, bookings, and customer assistance directly from a mobile device, making it ideal for events and offsite engagement.

Interact supports a range of functions including self-checkout, paying fines or fees, updating account information, placing holds, and signing up for or renewing library cards, registering for events, reserving a room, making an appointment, custom surveys and more!

Interact currently integrates via API with Koha, Symphony, Horizon, Sierra, Polaris, Millenium and Evergreen.

Absolutely. Interact is fully customizable and can be branded with your library’s colors, logo and messaging to create a seamless customer experience.

Yes. Interact offers multilingual support to ensure accessibility for all your customers.

Interact is hardware agnostic and can be used on various self-service kiosks, tablets or touchscreens, depending on your library’s needs, budget and setup.

Yes, Interact is fully RFID compatible.

Interact is compatible with Android and Windows devices.

Absolutely! Interact kiosks can be placed anywhere – shopping centers, transport hubs, city and town halls and even your local DMV to expand your reach and engagement with your community.

Explore is designed to discover everything your library provides to your community, not just books, - but also, magazines, comics, newspapers, online learning, programs and events, appointments services, meeting and study rooms, local resources and library of things.

Explore currently works with Koha, Symphony, Horizon, Sierra, Polaris, and Evergreen ILS systems.

No two versions of Explore need look the same, you have complete control of not just the UI, but also of the search indexing results.

Yes, Communico has its own CMS, Create, which powers the front end of Explore, but if you prefer you can also insert Explore into your current website and it remains fully ADA Compliant.

Yes, it does. Explore is fully integrated into your ILS to provide customers real-time data.

Yes, Explore is designed for mobile, tablet and the web.

Kinda has to be :-)

We connect directly with leading digital content providers—Libby, CloudLibrary, Boundless, Hoopla, Press Reader, Comics Plus, Kanopy, Creativebug, LinkedIn Learning, Gale Courses, Universal Class, EBSCO Connect, Mango Languages and Brainfuse—so this data doesn’t need to reside in your ILS. Where supported, Explore also enables Single Sign-On for a smoother user experience.

Yes! Inspire participation in as many challenges as you wish.

Absolutely, it can be used for any type of challenge, reading or otherwise!

Yes! And even better yet, badges and awards are totally customizable to capture your unique theme and branding.

Young adults aged 14 and up can sign up for Challenge independently. For those under 14, a parent, caregiver, or school can log in to track and record their progress.

Yes, you can run simultaneous challenges at once as needed. For example, you could run a Child, Teen and Adult Summer Reading Challenge all at the same time.

Yes, it’s optional for all challenges. If you use the points system, you can display progress on a single, combined timeline across all challenge goals. Without points, progress is still shown, just on individual timelines.

Yes, you can create and run completely customizable reports based on the data you collect.