📚 Library Management System (MERN)

A full-stack Library Management System built using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js) to efficiently manage books, users, and borrowing operations in a library.

⚠️ Note: This is not an e-commerce platform — no payment system is included.

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🚀 Features

👨‍💼 Admin Panel

• 📘 Manage books (Add / Update / Delete)
• 👥 View user details (ID, borrowed books, etc.)
• ✅ Approve book requests
• 🔄 Confirm book returns
• 💰 Manage late return charges

👤 Client Panel

• 🔍 Browse and search books
• 📚 Check availability
• 📩 Request books
• 👤 Manage profile & dashboard (CRUD operations)

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🛠️ Tech Stack

Frontend

• React.js
• Bootstrap

Backend

• Node.js
• Express.js

Database

• MongoDB

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⚙️ Version Specifications

• Node.js: v18.16.0
• Express: v4.18.2
• React: v18.2.0
• MongoDB: v6.0.6
• Mongosh: v2.0.2

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🎬 Demo

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📚 Documentation

Documentation is available inside the /docs/ folder.

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🧑‍💻 Getting Started (Local Setup)

1️⃣ Clone the Repository

git clone git@github.com:MrAalu/LibraryManagementSystem_MERN.git
cd LibraryManagementSystem_MERN

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2️⃣ Navigate to Project Folders

cd frontend
cd backend

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3️⃣ Install Dependencies

npm install

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4️⃣ Environment Variables

Create a .env file inside the backend folder and copy values from:

.env.example

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5️⃣ Run the Application

Start both frontend and backend:

npm run dev

💡 If you face backend issues, refer to:

/backend/BackendInfo/

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🗄️ Database Setup

• Ensure MongoDB server is running
• Open MongoDB Compass
• Import JSON files from:

mongoDatabase/

into respective collections

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🐳 Run with Docker

1. Setup MongoDB locally (as above)
2. Configure .env with correct CONNECTION_URL
3. Run:

docker-compose up

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🔐 Login Credentials

👨‍💼 Admin

Email: admin@gmail.com  
Password: admin@123
Role: admin_user

👤 User

• Register via Signup page
• Role: normal_user

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📘 Lessons Learned

• 💬 "Code comments are letters to your future self."
• 🔁 "If you can't solve it now, document it for later."

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🚀 Future Improvements

• 📅 Automated due date tracking
• 🔔 Notifications (Email/SMS)
• 📊 Analytics dashboard
• 📚 Book categorization & recommendations

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