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Akanle Tolulope
Akanle Tolulope

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Building a Library Management System with SQL: My Journey, Insights, and Best Practices ✨

#sql #beginners #sideprojects #datascience

As a data analyst passionate about turning raw data into structure and insight, I recently completed a project that truly strengthened my SQL skills — a Library Management System built entirely using SQL. The goal was simple: to create a relational database that could efficiently manage books, members, employees, and issued records, just like in a real-world library setup.

What started as a basic idea quickly became a full-fledged learning experience. I designed tables for books, members, and employees, then implemented joins and relationships to connect them through issued and returned transactions. One of the key lessons I learned was how data normalization and relationships bring structure and clarity to even the most complex systems.

For example, this simple query helped me identify members who borrowed more than one book:

SELECT 
  m.member_name,
  COUNT(ist.issued_id) AS total_books
FROM issued_status AS ist
JOIN members AS m 
  ON m.member_id = ist.issued_member_id
GROUP BY m.member_name
HAVING COUNT(ist.issued_id) > 1;
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It was exciting to see how a few lines of SQL could transform raw data into real insights. I also explored ways to count how many books each employee had issued, which deepened my understanding of JOINs and GROUP BY logic:

SELECT 
  e.emp_name,
  COUNT(ist.issued_id) AS books_issued
FROM issued_status AS ist
JOIN employees AS e 
  ON e.emp_id = ist.issued_emp_id
GROUP BY e.emp_name;
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Beyond queries, I implemented a stored procedure to automate repetitive tasks like tracking issued and returned books. This step gave the project a more practical feel — similar to how database operations work behind the scenes in real organizations.

Overall, this project reminded me that even seemingly simple systems can teach deep analytical and structural thinking. If you’re learning SQL or data management, I’d highly recommend trying to build something like this. It’s not just about writing queries — it’s about thinking through real-world data problems, relationships, and efficiency.

👉 You can check out the full project on my GitHub here: https://github.com/Akansrodger/Library-Management-System-using-SQL-Project---prj2

You can check me out on other social media platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiiee_.__/

X: https://x.com/Akansrodgers

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