---
type: Documentation
title: Backup and restore
description: Librario backs up your data automatically every day. You can create your
  own backups through the REST API at no extra cost, or order one from us as a service.
resource: https://www.librario.de/en/docs/administration/backups
language: en
revision: e114aa541d24c57e452957a2313c85d2014b716b
tags:
- docs
- administration
---

# Backup and restore

Librario backs up the data of all accounts automatically every day. There are two ways to create your own backups: order a paid backup from us, or run them yourself through the REST API at no extra cost.

## System backups

Librario creates automatic backups of all customers' data every day.
These backups protect against technical problems and system failures on our side.
In the unlikely event of data loss caused by us, we can restore your data up to the last successful backup.
The [Trust Center](/en/trust) describes where the backups are stored and how they are encrypted.

## Keep your own backups as well

We strongly recommend that you also keep your own backups.
They protect you against:

- Someone in your organisation deleting data by mistake
- Unintended changes to publications
- Data loss from faulty bulk operations

You have two options for your own backups.
The exports in Librario itself (publication lists as CSV, BibTeX or EndNote) are free as well, but they contain only the metadata and no files. That makes them no substitute for a full backup.

### 1. Backup as a service

We create a full backup of your data on request as a paid service:

1. Email our [support team](mailto:support@librario.de?subject=Librario%20support%20request&body=Dear%20Sir%20or%20Madam%2C%0A%0AI%20need%20help%20using%20Librario.%0A%0AAccount%20e-mail%20address%3A%0AAffected%20page%20%28URL%29%3A%0ARequest%20ID%20%28if%20an%20error%20page%20was%20shown%29%3A%0A%0AWhat%20is%20the%20issue%3F%20What%20did%20you%20expect%2C%20and%20what%20happened%20instead%3F%0A%0A%0AI%20will%20attach%20a%20screenshot%20or%20screen%20recording%20where%20possible.%0A%0AKind%20regards%0A) and tell us which cloud storage service you want us to put the backup in
2. We create a complete backup and upload it to your cloud storage
3. You receive a confirmation once the upload has succeeded

### 2. Automated backups through the API

> **Plan option:**
> 
> Available in plans with **REST API**. [Compare plans→](/en/preise)



If your IT runs its own scripts, [our REST API](/en/docs/integration/api) lets you create a backup of your data. You run these backups yourself, at no extra cost.
For the backup to include the attached files, the token needs the `assets:read` permission as well as `library:read`. Without it, the responses contain no download links.

- You decide when to back up and what to include: publications, files, hard copies, collections and authority records.

> **Best practices for API backups:**
> 
> - Download a file again only if its `checksum` or `updated_at` has changed. `/publications/all` always returns the complete metadata.
> - Schedule backups outside main working hours (after 19:00 Central European time)
> - Document your backup processes for emergencies
> - Test restoring from your backups regularly


Both ways need a person to set them off. A backup through the API does not run by itself either: someone has to start the script or set up and monitor the cron job. Plan this step as a [recurring task](/en/docs/bibliothekswesen/aufgabenverwaltung/wiederkehrende-aufgaben) so that the backup does not get forgotten: for example monthly, to run the script or check that the cron job ran and that a backup can be restored, or yearly, to order a backup as a service from us.

## Getting help

If you have questions about backup strategies or the technical setup, our [support team](mailto:support@librario.de?subject=Librario%20support%20request&body=Dear%20Sir%20or%20Madam%2C%0A%0AI%20need%20help%20using%20Librario.%0A%0AAccount%20e-mail%20address%3A%0AAffected%20page%20%28URL%29%3A%0ARequest%20ID%20%28if%20an%20error%20page%20was%20shown%29%3A%0A%0AWhat%20is%20the%20issue%3F%20What%20did%20you%20expect%2C%20and%20what%20happened%20instead%3F%0A%0A%0AI%20will%20attach%20a%20screenshot%20or%20screen%20recording%20where%20possible.%0A%0AKind%20regards%0A) can help you with:

- Planning your backup strategy
- Setting up automated backups
- Carrying out manual backups
- Restoring data