What PMB Services does

PMB Services is a privately held French software company (SAS) operating since 2002 from Montval-sur-Loir, Sarthe, that develops and supports PMB, a free open-source integrated library management system (ILS) written in PHP. The software is used by documentation centers, public libraries, media libraries, library networks, and specialized institutional libraries across France and in French-speaking networks abroad, providing cataloging, circulation management, acquisitions, serials control, and OPAC functionality. PMB Services complements the core ILS with a portfolio of open-source add-on modules — Appli Mobile (mobile patron app), Bibloto (self-service loan/return kiosk), Bibli-connect (WordPress plugin), Biblio-Drive (drive-thru appointment scheduling), and VoxilabPHP (Voxilab API integration) — distributed from the project's forge.

The company operates a freemium business model: the core PMB software is freely downloadable and self-installable, while PMB Services monetizes a stack of professional services including implementation, hosted cloud deployment, on-premise installation, data migration, integration with existing systems, custom portal design, training (inter-company and intra-company), and hardware sales (barcode scanners, labels, reader cards), supplemented by recurring support and maintenance contracts. Its customer base spans public administrations (communes and intercommunalités), higher education (Audencia Business School), healthcare documentation (Groupement national des centres de ressources autisme), cultural institutions, manufacturing (Manufacture Française des pneumatiques Michelin), broadcasting (Radio France), and government agencies (Service National de Police Scientifique). Go-to-market is hybrid: sales-led through direct engagement, demo requests, and personalized support; community-led through the PMB Community platform, documentation portal, and user forums; and event-driven through webinars on Webikeo and other professional events.

The firm is independently operated with no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company; registered capital stands at €103,000. Eric Robert is identified as Director of Publication. No public listing, stock exchange, or ticker symbol is referenced, and the company maintains no disclosed M&A, restructuring, or leadership-change activity in the available record.

Name

PMB Services

Legal name

PMB Services – SAS

Website

https://sigb.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PMB Services is a privately held French software company that develops and supports PMB, a free open-source integrated library management system serving public libraries, documentation centers, and institutional libraries across France and French-speaking networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Château-du-loir

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Services: PMB Services generates revenue through implementation services including project follow-up, hosting, on-premise installation, data migration, integration with existing systems, portal design, custom development, and maintenance/support.
2. Training Services: Revenue from training services including basic inter-company training and personalized intra-company training programs.
3. Hardware Sales: Sale of hardware including barcode scanners (douchettes), barcode labels, and reader cards.
4. Software Licensing (Support Contracts): While the core PMB software is free and open-source, PMB Services provides paid support, hosting, and maintenance contracts for organizations requiring assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PMB Services develops and supports PMB, a free and open-source integrated library management system (ILS) used by documentation centers and libraries for cataloging, circulation, acquisitions, serials management, and OPAC. The company monetizes this offering through complementary professional services including managed hosting, on-premise installation, data migration, custom portal design, training programs, and the sale of related hardware (barcode scanners, labels, reader cards). It also publishes a portfolio of add-on open-source modules (Appli Mobile, Bibloto, Bibli-connect, Biblio-Drive, VoxilabPHP) that extend the core ILS functionality.

Product overview

PMB Services offers PMB, an open-source integrated library management system (ILS), as the core product. The system provides cataloging, circulation, acquisitions, serials management, and OPAC functionality for libraries and documentation centers. PMB Services complements the software with a portfolio of add-on modules (Appli Mobile for mobile access, Bibloto for automated kiosks, Bibli-connect for WordPress integration, Biblio-Drive for appointment scheduling, VoxilabPHP for Voxilab API access) and professional services including hosting, portal development, training, and hardware supplies. The company supports both on-premise installations and hosted solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PMB: Free and open-source integrated library management system (ILS) for managing physical and digital documents in documentation centers and libraries.
• Appli Mobile
• Bibloto
• Bibli-connect
• Biblio-Drive
• VoxilabPHP

Products and services

• PMB (Logiciel PMB) Open-source integrated library management system (ILS) enabling cataloging, circulation management, acquisitions, serials control, and OPAC for libraries and documentation centers. Free to download and use under an open-source license.
• Appli Mobile Mobile application enabling library users to access the PMB catalog, manage loans, and reservations from mobile devices.
• Bibloto Automated loan/return kiosk system for PMB enabling self-service book borrowing and returns at libraries.
• Bibli-connect WordPress plugin that bridges WordPress websites with PMB databases, displaying notice details, reservations, and shelves within WordPress.
• Biblio-Drive Appointment scheduling application for library drive services (drive-thru pickups), independent of PMB but interfaces via plugin.
• VoxilabPHP

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• BiblioCommons: BiblioCommons provides a modern patron-facing discovery and engagement layer that integrates with existing ILS backends. Comparable as an emerging player in the library technology stack whose patron-experience focus signals where differentiated next-generation investment is happening.

Broad incumbents

• SirsiDynix: SirsiDynix offers Symphony, Horizon, and BlueCloud products to public, academic, and consortia libraries. Comparable to PMB as a longstanding broad ILS vendor with deep penetration in North American and European library systems.
• OCLC: OCLC operates the WorldShare platform and WorldCat union catalog, serving public, academic, and school libraries globally. Comparable to PMB as a large-scale ILS and library-services incumbent competing for the same institutional budget pool.
• Axiell: Axiell is a European library and archives software group offering ILS, museum, and school library products across the Nordics, UK, Benelux, and France. Comparable to PMB because it competes for the same European public and cultural-heritage library deals at larger scale.
• Innovative Interfaces: Innovative (an Ex Libris business) provides Sierra, Polaris, and Vega ILS platforms for public and special libraries. Comparable as a broad ILS incumbent whose products are routinely evaluated alongside PMB in public-library procurements.
• Ex Libris Group: Ex Libris (owned by Clarivate) provides Alma, SFX, and Primo for academic and research libraries, and Sierra for public libraries. Comparable as a broad ILS incumbent that PMB Services must displace at the enterprise and consortia tier.

Direct peers

• PTFS Europe: PTFS Europe is the European arm of PTFS, providing Koha and Aspen Discovery implementation, hosting, and support. Comparable to PMB Services as a Europe-focused open-source ILS services company that targets the same European public and academic library market.
• ByWater Solutions: ByWater Solutions is a Koha-focused implementation, hosting, and support provider based in the US. Comparable to PMB Services because it monetizes a free open-source ILS through exactly the same professional-services, hosting, and training revenue stack.
• Koha: Koha is the leading global open-source integrated library system with a similar libre philosophy. It directly competes with PMB in the same open-source ILS category, often chosen by public and academic libraries seeking vendor independence, and represents PMB's closest functional and philosophical peer.
• Evergreen: Evergreen is another major open-source ILS, originally developed for the Georgia PINES consortium. Comparable to PMB because it is community-developed, open-source, and serves public library networks and consortia pursuing a vendor-independent stack.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/pmbservices
• Facebookfacebook.com/pmb.sigb.net/?locale=fr_FR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pmb-services
• Xx.com/pmbservices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PMB Services