I, Librarian

Self-Hosted

Open-source self-hosted research document management system

Overview

I, Librarian organizes research papers, PDFs, and documents with metadata tagging, full-text search, and citation management. It supports importing from BibTeX/RIS formats and exporting citations in multiple styles. Deployment is straightforward via Docker or manual setup on LAMP/WAMP stacks. Features include user authentication, access control, and integration with external databases. Ideal for academics/researchers needing a private, self-hosted solution to manage libraries without cloud reliance.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  i_librarian:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: i-librarian
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Full-text search for documents
Metadata & citation management
BibTeX/RIS import/export
User authentication & access control
Docker & LAMP stack deployment support

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is I, Librarian hard to install?

Installation is simple with Docker (one-command setup) or manual deployment on LAMP/WAMP stacks. Official docs provide step-by-step guides, making it accessible for users with basic server experience.

? Is it a good alternative to Mendeley?

Yes—ideal for users prioritizing self-hosted privacy. It offers core features like citation management and full-text search similar to Mendeley, without cloud data privacy risks.

? Is it completely free?

Yes—It’s open-source (GPLv3 license) with no hidden fees. All features are free to use, modify, and self-host for personal or team use.

Top Alternatives

Mendeley Search Google

EndNote Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category Document Management

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (self-hosted data control)
⊕ No subscription fees
⊕ Supports multiple citation styles
⊕ Easy Docker deployment

Cons

⊖ Limited mobile app support
⊖ Basic server knowledge needed for manual setup
⊖ Fewer third-party integrations than cloud tools