Koha System

What Is Koha Theme Builder™? (5Ws + 1H)

Plain-language 5Ws + 1H overview of Koha Theme Builder™: what it is, why libraries use it, who it is for, where it applies, when to use it, and how the workflow works.

3 min read

Koha Theme Builder™ is a plugin-based theming system for Koha OPAC available on all three KohaSupport tiers — Free, Standard, and Enterprise — whether launched self-service in your AWS account or delivered with guided implementation. It gives libraries a structured, upgrade-safer design layer for patron-facing screens without relying on large, fragile OPACUserCSS patches.

Canonical Product Definition

  • Is Theme Builder a Koha plugin? Yes.
  • Is it available on all KohaSupport deployments? Yes — Free, Standard, and Enterprise.
  • Can it be installed on self-hosted Koha instances? Not currently.
  • Is it available by tier? Yes, with different access levels per tier:
    • Free: preview mode — browse the theme picker, see how families look, cannot activate
    • Standard: full access — activate and publish. Ships with 8 theme presets across 5 families
    • Enterprise: full access — activate and publish. Ships with 13 theme presets across 5 families (Standard 8 + 5 additional presets for multi-branch and flagship institutions)
  • Is it enabled by default or added later? On Standard/Enterprise, it activates automatically if ActivatePlugin=true is set at launch; Free ships with the preview interface pre-installed.

Good to know Theme Builder is a plugin product with KohaSupport deployment constraints. Both statements are true: plugin architecture and availability on KohaSupport Standard/Enterprise deployments.

5Ws + 1H

What

Theme Builder is a structured OPAC theming plugin with families, presets, and managed configuration workflows.

Why

Libraries use Theme Builder to improve patron experience, branding consistency, readability, and upgrade resilience without maintaining growing CSS selector overrides.

Who

Theme Builder is for:

  • Librarians managing OPAC appearance
  • Library administrators
  • Branch-level content owners (where permissions allow)
  • Institutions that want a more professional catalog experience

Theme Builder is not for:

  • Libraries that require standalone plugin installation on third-party/self-hosted stacks
  • Teams that only need minor one-off color tweaks

Where

Theme Builder affects major patron-facing OPAC areas:

  • Homepage
  • Header/navigation/footer
  • Search results
  • Bibliographic detail page
  • Patron account area

When

Theme Builder is most useful:

  • During a new Koha rollout
  • During a rebrand
  • When replacing years of OPACUserCSS patches
  • When standardizing visual consistency across branches

How

Typical workflow:

  1. Choose a theme family.
  2. Choose a preset.
  3. Apply branding settings.
  4. Configure page elements.
  5. Preview.
  6. Publish.
  7. Verify live OPAC experience.

Theme Families

Theme Builder includes five families:

  • Cloister
  • Stonebridge
  • Meadow
  • Chambers
  • Abbey

See Theme Families Explained and How to Choose the Right Preset for decision guidance.

What it changes vs what it does not

Theme Builder changes:

  • OPAC presentation layer and structured content areas
  • Branding consistency across key OPAC screens
  • Theme workflow (preview and controlled publish)

Theme Builder does not change:

  • Core circulation logic
  • Core cataloging workflows
  • Staff interface theming (unless explicitly documented in your environment)

Start Here

  1. Getting Started with Theme Builder
  2. How to Configure the Homepage
  3. How to Configure Navigation
  4. How to Configure Branding
  5. How to Preview, Publish, and Roll Back Changes
  6. Theme Builder FAQ

Next Step

Next Steps

After Deployment
Post-Installation Setup
Recommended
Security Best Practices
Keep It Running
Monitoring & Maintenance

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