What readers need
A reader looking for a specific book checks online, and a library whose catalogue is not searchable is simply not part of that search. Beyond borrowing, libraries run events, hold digital and archival collections, and provide study space — all of which are invisible to the people who would use them. Membership and renewals typically require a visit, which is the opposite of how every other service now works.
What we build for a library
First, catalogue search with real availability and reservation, which is the core service and the reason to visit. Second, digital and archival collections published, since that material has an audience far beyond the building. Third, an event calendar with registration, because events are how a modern library stays relevant. Fourth, reader accounts with loans, renewals and due dates, removing the visit that exists only to extend a book.