Scan the barcode.
Watch the record build itself.
Point a barcode scanner at the ISBN. SmartSuite queries SCIS and every connected Z39.50 source simultaneously — and the full record appears.
Scan or type the ISBN
Use a barcode scanner, your phone camera, or just type the number. One action is all it takes.
SmartSuite queries every source
SCIS, Open Library Australia, Library of Congress, Z39.50 — all checked simultaneously in under a second.
Full record — ready to save
Cover art, Dewey, SCIS subject headings, author, series, year level, language — all populated. You just click Save.
What gets imported automatically
What if it's not in SCIS?
SCIS has the most comprehensive school library catalogue in Australia — but SmartSuite doesn't stop there. If a title isn't in SCIS, it automatically queries a chain of secondary sources until a match is found.
Fallback chain — in order
Tish Talks: SCIS Integration & Global Catalogue in SmartSuite Library
Want to original catalogue?
Still just a click.
When a resource isn't in any external catalogue — a school play script, a class set, a teacher-created resource — original cataloguing in SmartSuite is filling in a form. Title, media type from a dropdown, subjects, done.
- Custom media types — School Plays, Class Sets, Teacher Resources, anything you need
- Subject tags, year levels, and notes added in seconds
- Immediately searchable alongside your SCIS-catalogued collection
- Catalogue anything — kits, costumes, instruments, AV equipment
Then SmartSuite adds curriculum metadata — automatically.
After cataloguing, ACARA-Sync maps every item to the Australian Curriculum — by learning area, year level, and strand — without you lifting a finger. No other school library system in Australia does this.
- → Curriculum coverage reports — see what you have and what you're missing
- → Identify collection gaps by year level or learning area
- → Share curriculum-aligned reading lists with teachers automatically
ACARA-Sync
Automatic Australian Curriculum mapping
Maths — Year 7 · 47 resources mapped
English — Year 9–10 · 83 resources mapped
Science — Year 5–6 · 29 resources mapped
Updates automatically as you catalogue
Not just books. Catalogue everything.
SmartSuite's asset management module lets you catalogue any physical resource your school owns — iPads, cameras, instruments, uniforms, keys, class sets, AV equipment. Full condition tracking, loan history, and location management included.
Asset Management →Cataloguing — FAQs
Does SmartSuite Library integrate with SCIS? +
Yes. SmartSuite integrates directly with the Schools Catalogue Information Service (SCIS). Scan an ISBN and import the full SCIS record — cover image, Dewey classification, subject headings, and all — in one click. No manual entry required.
What happens if a title isn't in SCIS? +
SmartSuite automatically falls back through a chain of sources — Open Library Australia, Library of Congress, and any Z39.50-compatible council library. If nothing matches, original cataloguing is as simple as typing into a form.
What is ACARA-Sync? +
ACARA-Sync is a SmartSuite-exclusive feature that automatically maps every item in your collection to the Australian Curriculum by learning area, year level, and strand. No other school library system in Australia does this automatically.
Can SmartSuite catalogue non-book resources? +
Yes. SmartSuite's asset management module catalogues cameras, iPads, instruments, class sets, costumes, uniforms, and anything else your school loans. Full condition tracking, loan history, and location management are included.
Do we need a SCIS subscription? +
SCIS integration requires an active SCIS subscription (via your state education department or ALIA). Without it, SmartSuite still catalogues using Z39.50 and manual entry — but SCIS gives the highest quality records and is strongly recommended.
Also catalogue directly from your browser.
FSI WebCat is a free Chrome extension for SmartSuite Library schools. Add any webpage to your catalogue in one click, without leaving the page.
See how WebCat works →See SmartSuite cataloguing in action.
Book a free demo and we'll walk you through SCIS integration, ACARA-Sync, and original cataloguing with your own collection.