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Project Overview
- Client: Maktaba Books
- Industry: Non-Profit / Community & Education
- Services Provided: Custom Web Development, Workflow Automation, Systems Integration
- Tech Stack: WordPress, Make (Integromat), External Database, Book Data API
About the Client
Maktaba Books is a peer-to-peer community library initiative in Singapore aimed at giving shelf-bound books a second life. Driven by a mission to expand access to knowledge—specifically surrounding Islam and Malay Studies—they foster community connection by enabling readers to share and borrow books for free, alongside hosting community book clubs.
The Challenge
To fulfill their vision of a truly community-led library, Maktaba Books needed an intuitive digital platform that allowed users to browse available titles and initiate peer-to-peer loans independently. Manually coordinating book uploads, inventory data, and lending logistics via channels like Telegram was time-consuming and unsustainable as their community grew. They required a scalable solution that automated book cataloging and user communication with minimal manual intervention.
Our Solution
We designed and built a tailored tech ecosystem by connecting WordPress with Make automation, an external database, and email workflows. To ensure smooth adoption and continuous refinement, we structured the rollout into a 3-phase rollout roadmap:
- Automated Book Cataloging: Integrated an ISBN API lookup system. Users simply enter a book’s 13-digit ISBN, and the platform automatically fetches the book title, author, summary, and cover image—eliminating manual data entry.
- Streamlined Communication: Shifted peer-to-peer user communications from manual Telegram messages to automated, triggered email notifications that guide users through borrowing requests.
- Centralized Database Management: Sync’d WordPress front-end interactions with a flexible backend database, ensuring accurate real-time tracking of book availability across lenders.
The Result
- Low-Friction Listing: Community members can list books in seconds using simple ISBN automation.
- Hands-Off Operations: Automated transactional communications significantly reduced administrative overhead for the core team.
- Scalable Infrastructure: Phase 2 successfully laid the operational groundwork for Phase 3, positioning Maktaba Books to scale its lending network across Singapore effortlessly.
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