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Project – Library Management System:

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You’re going to build a Library Management System in Python. This system allows a user to:

  1. Add books to the library.
  2. Display available books.
  3. Borrow a book (mark it as borrowed).
  4. Return a book.
  5. Save and load library data from a file so it persists between runs.

This project will give you practical experience with:

  • Object-Oriented Programming (classes and objects)
  • Lists and dictionaries
  • File I/O (reading/writing files)
  • JSON serialization
  • Error handling
  • Data persistence

The project will consist of a single Python file and one JSON file (library_data.json) to store book data.

✅ Solution :

import json
import os

class Book:
    def __init__(self, title, author):
        self.title = title
        self.author = author
        self.is_borrowed = False

    def to_dict(self):
        return {
            "title": self.title,
            "author": self.author,
            "is_borrowed": self.is_borrowed
        }

    @staticmethod
    def from_dict(data):
        book = Book(data['title'], data['author'])
        book.is_borrowed = data['is_borrowed']
        return book


class Library:
    def __init__(self, data_file='library_data.json'):
        self.books = []
        self.data_file = data_file
        self.load_books()

    def add_book(self, title, author):
        self.books.append(Book(title, author))
        self.save_books()
        print(f"✅ Book '{title}' added to the library.")

    def display_books(self):
        if not self.books:
            print("📭 No books in the library.")
            return
        print("\n📚 Available books:")
        for idx, book in enumerate(self.books):
            status = "Borrowed" if book.is_borrowed else "Available"
            print(f"{idx+1}. {book.title} by {book.author} - [{status}]")

    def borrow_book(self, index):
        try:
            book = self.books[index]
            if book.is_borrowed:
                print("⚠️ This book is already borrowed.")
            else:
                book.is_borrowed = True
                self.save_books()
                print(f"📖 You have borrowed '{book.title}'.")
        except IndexError:
            print("⚠️ Invalid book number.")

    def return_book(self, index):
        try:
            book = self.books[index]
            if not book.is_borrowed:
                print("⚠️ This book was not borrowed.")
            else:
                book.is_borrowed = False
                self.save_books()
                print(f"🔁 You have returned '{book.title}'.")
        except IndexError:
            print("⚠️ Invalid book number.")

    def save_books(self):
        data = [book.to_dict() for book in self.books]
        with open(self.data_file, 'w') as f:
            json.dump(data, f)

    def load_books(self):
        if not os.path.exists(self.data_file):
            return
        with open(self.data_file, 'r') as f:
            data = json.load(f)
            self.books = [Book.from_dict(b) for b in data]


def main():
    library = Library()

    while True:
        print("\n📌 Library Menu")
        print("1. Add Book")
        print("2. Show Books")
        print("3. Borrow Book")
        print("4. Return Book")
        print("5. Exit")
        choice = input("Enter choice: ")

        if choice == "1":
            title = input("Enter book title: ")
            author = input("Enter author name: ")
            library.add_book(title, author)

        elif choice == "2":
            library.display_books()

        elif choice == "3":
            library.display_books()
            try:
                index = int(input("Enter book number to borrow: ")) - 1
                library.borrow_book(index)
            except ValueError:
                print("⚠️ Please enter a valid number.")

        elif choice == "4":
            library.display_books()
            try:
                index = int(input("Enter book number to return: ")) - 1
                library.return_book(index)
            except ValueError:
                print("⚠️ Please enter a valid number.")

        elif choice == "5":
            print("👋 Goodbye!")
            break

        else:
            print("❌ Invalid choice. Try again.")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

🧠 Detailed Explanation of Key Concepts

📦 Book Class

  • Represents a book with a title, author, and borrowed status.
  • to_dict(): Converts the book into a dictionary for saving.
  • from_dict(): Re-creates a Book from a dictionary when loading from file.

🏛️ Library Class

  • Stores a list of books and manages saving/loading from a JSON file.
  • add_book(): Adds a new book to the list and saves.
  • display_books(): Prints all books with their status.
  • borrow_book(index): Changes is_borrowed to True.
  • return_book(index): Changes is_borrowed to False.
  • save_books(): Serializes the list into a JSON file.
  • load_books(): Loads books from file if it exists.

📁 File Handling

  • Uses json to serialize and deserialize book data.
  • Book data is saved in library_data.json, allowing persistent storage between runs.

🔁 Main Loop

  • Displays a menu and processes user input.
  • Handles invalid input and guides the user through the process.

✅ Sample Run (User View)

📌 Library Menu
1. Add Book
2. Show Books
3. Borrow Book
4. Return Book
5. Exit
Enter choice: 1
Enter book title: 1984
Enter author name: George Orwell
✅ Book '1984' added to the library.

📌 Library Menu
2. Show Books

📚 Available books:
1. 1984 by George Orwell - [Available]

🧩 Ideas for Extensions

If you want to make this project more complex:

  • Add user accounts with login/signup.
  • Track which user borrowed which book.
  • Add due dates and late return penalties.
  • Create a GUI version using Tkinter or PyQt.

If you have any questions , feel free to contact us at [email protected] .

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