--- description: Learn how Mandarin M5 can help your business. GetApp provides users in South Africa with the most detailed information on software tools, prices and features. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/getapp/og_logo-94fd2a03a6c7a0e54fc0c9e21a1c0ce9.png title: Mandarin M5 Reviews, Prices & Ratings | GetApp South Africa 2026 --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [Library Automation Software](/directory/39/library-automation/software) > [Mandarin M5](/software/106365/mandarin) # Mandarin M5 Canonical: https://www.getapp.za.com/software/106365/mandarin Page: 1 / 4\ Next: [Next page](https://www.getapp.za.com/software/106365/mandarin?page=2) > Mandarin is a web-based library management system targeting smaller private \& public facilities with support for cataloguing, circulation \& inventory management > > Verdict: Rated **4.6/5** by 64 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Overview ### Key benefits of Mandarin M5 Mandarin is a provider of automated and highly customizable library management systems for smaller or specialist library sites, allowing these facilities to centralize their book catalog and give patrons access to online search portals. As a cloud-based solution, Mandarin promises rapid setup and installation while liberating librarians from the additional costs and efforts required when maintaining a server. Mandarin can however be installed on-premise if preferred. Cataloging features provide tools for adding, copying, editing and deleting book records alongside an included equipment database. The inventory module then enables full or partial inventory checks to be conducted. Circulation features for processing loans, returns, renewals and bookings, plus the ability to query patron or item status, implement late return fines, issue refunds and send email notifications, reminders or warnings. An integrated report generator includes a Report Tool offering 900+ pre-built report types, while custom reports can be created in a matter of steps before sending PDF exports out to shareholders via email. ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.6/5** | 64 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 4.4/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 4.8/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.7/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.2/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 90% | (9/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: Mandarin Library Automation - **Founded**: 1986 ## Commercial Context - **Starting Price**: US$500,00 - **Pricing model**: Other (Free version available) (Free Trial) - **Pricing Details**: Annual subscriptions for Mandarin M5, cloud-hosted, range from $500-$950 depending on library size and patron numbers. This includes all updates, 24 hour technical support assistance via toll free, email, skype, whatapp. On-premise pricing carries a one-time purchase fee of $1250, then $650 annually for each site to cover services and updates. - **Target Audience**: Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1 000, 1 001–5 000, 5 001–10 000, 10 000+ - **Deployment & Platforms**: Cloud, SaaS, Web-based, Windows (On-Premise) - **Supported Languages**: Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese - **Available Countries**: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia and 149 more ## Features - Alerts/Notifications - Barcode/Ticket Scanning - Barcoding/RFID - Catalog Creation - Catalog Management - Church Libraries - Circulation Management - Customizable Branding - Customizable Reports - Customizable Templates - Customization - Data Import/Export - Equipment Tracking - Fee Collection - Full Text Search - Historical Reporting - Inventory Management - Multi-Language - OPAC - Online Catalog ## Support Options - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) ## Category - [Library Automation Software](https://www.getapp.za.com/directory/39/library-automation/software) ## Related Categories - [Library Automation Software](https://www.getapp.za.com/directory/39/library-automation/software) - [Catalog Management Software](https://www.getapp.za.com/directory/188/catalog-management/software) ## Alternatives 1. 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It is a real pain to get the information from the other source. ----- ### "Great System" — 5.0/5 > **Julie** | *28 May 2019* | Libraries | Recommendation rating: 9.0/10 > > **Pros**: We came from using RenWeb for our Library Catalog and Patron Services. There's been a bit of learning curve, but Mandarin is so much easier to use than our previous system. Inputting new items into the catalog is so much easier than the previous system. It takes me a fraction of the time that I used to spend. > > **Cons**: I don't like that I can't print library cards with our student's pictures on them. But, I can still print them in RenWeb with a barcode, so that's really nice. I also wish that the pictures were easier to update. School pictures don't come in until Mid to Late October and I don't have access to them. So new students don't have their pictures updated and continuing students don't have their new ones shown. This just makes our students a bit sad. I also wish that I could search the system by barcode. It would also be nice if I am signed in as an administrator and I look up a particular book, that it would show the name of the student who has checked it out. Yes, I do know there's another way to do that. But, it would be nice if it was just in one step and I didn't have to go to another place to look that up. The only other little problem, which I know is just my library assistants being a bit to quick, is that there's a significant time lag between scanning a book as returned and it coming up on the screen as returned. I know that this is more on my side than on the side of Mandarin. > > My overall experience with Mandarin has been wonderful. My questions are always quick to be answered. I would definitely recommend Mandarin to anyone who is looking for a new system for their library cataloging. ----- ### "Review of Mandarin" — 2.0/5 > **Stella** | *25 April 2019* | Education Management | Recommendation rating: 5.0/10 > > **Pros**: Can be accessed on any computer Great technical support > > **Cons**: The transfer of data from our old system to this one was mediocre at best (Came on board when the transfer had already occurred). I have to visit EVERY book and re-enter spine info. Also quite a few books were lumped in as bib-holdings for totally different books. I understand the imported data may have been in very bad shape as well. However the ability to change multiple records in Mandarin is time consuming and extremely cumbersome. I would have liked to see rows of books in spreadsheet format and be able to edit that way. As it is TOO many screens to scroll to before you can make the edits. > > Okay. Tech support is amazing, though. ----- ### "Easy & Affordable" — 4.0/5 > **Sharon** | *31 March 2022* | Education Management | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: For a small to mid-range school library, this is a great budget-friendly automation program. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but it meets our needs adequately. > > **Cons**: It's a bit time-consuming and ponderous to set up at the beginning of each school year. The reserving a book part doesn't seem to work well for me. > > It's fairly straight forward and easy to use. The help staff is amazing\! If you have a problem, can't remember how to do something, or need assistance, they are there to help and take care of things in a timely manner. ----- ### "My experience since 2015-2023" — 5.0/5 > **ana** | *24 January 2023* | Religious Institutions | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: It's easy and friendly to use. The size of the letters, and the space in the templates. > > **Cons**: Update the manual not only the video tutorials. > > The process of library status, the library transactions and the reports. ----- Page: 1 / 4\ Next: [Next page](https://www.getapp.za.com/software/106365/mandarin?page=2) ## Links - [View on GetApp](https://www.getapp.za.com/software/106365/mandarin) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | de | | | de-AT | | | en | | | en-AE | | | en-AU | | | en-CA | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-NZ | | | en-SG | | | en-ZA | | | es | | | es-CL | | | es-CO | | | es-MX | | | fr | | | fr-BE | | | fr-CA | | | nl | | | nl-BE | | | pt | | | pt-PT | | ----- ## Structured Data