Garland PL vs SMU AWARE
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Garland PL
Access your library catalog, download items, and manage your account on the go. Search for books, place holds, and track your checked-out items and fines instantly. You can even scan item barcodes to find available copies.
- Search library catalog
- Place holds on items
- Manage library account
- Track checked-out items and fines
- Scan item barcodes
- Receive push notifications
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Garland PL makes it quick and easy to access the Nicholson Memorial Library System on the go! Search the Nicholson Memorial Library System's catalog, download items, manage your account, and find suggested reading instantly with your device. Top Features • Search the Nicholson Memorial Library System catalog: Search for items by title, author, subject, or general keyword and place holds on interesting items. • Manage your account: Keep track of your library account with push notifications and view your checked-out items, holds, fines, and account information. • Search by barcode: Use your device’s camera to scan the barcode on a book, CD, DVD, or other item at a friend’s house or bookstore and search for available copies in the Nicholson Memorial Library System. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at lib-support@garlandtx.gov. Let us know what device and OS version you’re using and the specific steps leading up to your issue, and we’ll work with you to resolve it.
SMU AWARE
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SMU AWARE is the official safety app of Southern Methodist University. It is the only app that integrates with Southern Methodist University’s safety and security systems. SMU Police has worked to develop a unique app that provides students, faculty and staff with added safety on the Southern Methodist University campus. The app will send you important safety alerts and provide instant access to campus safety resources. SMU AWARE features include: - Emergency Contacts: Contact the correct services for the Southern Methodist University area in case of an emergency or a non-emergency concern - Panic Button / Mobile Bluelight: Send your location to Southern Methodist University security in real-time in case of a crisis - Friend Walk: Send your location to a friend through email or SMS on your device. Once the friend accepts the Friend Walk request, the user picks their destination and their friend tracks their location in real time; they can keep an eye on them to make sure they make it safely to their destination. - Report a Tip: Multiple ways to report a safety/security concern directly to Southern Methodist University security. - Safety Toolbox: Enhance your safety with the set of tools provided in one convenient app. - Chat with Security: Communicate live with safety staff at Southern Methodist University via chat. - Notification History: Find previous Push Notifications for this app with the date and time. - I’m OK!: Send your location and a message indicating that “You’re OK” to a recipient of your choosing. - Campus Maps - Interactive Map: Navigate around the Southern Methodist University area. - SMU Express Shuttles: Find transit routes currently in service. - Accessibility: provides a valuable source for assistive functionalities for people with disabilities. - Emergency Plans: Campus emergency documentation that can prepare you for disasters or emergencies. This can be accessed even when users aren’t connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. - Support Resources: Access support resources in one convenient app to enjoy a successful experience at Southern Methodist University. - Safety Notifications: Receive instant notifications and instructions from Southern Methodist University safety when on-campus emergencies occur. Download today to ensure you’re prepared in the event of an emergency.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Garland PL at every 4 months against SMU AWARE's every 10 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Garland PL ships an update every 4 months, SMU AWARE every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Garland PL | SMU AWARE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (11 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 10 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | City of Garland - Nicholson Memorial Library | Southern Methodist University |
In-app purchases
Garland PL
No in-app purchases
SMU AWARE
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Garland PL free?
Is SMU AWARE free?
Do Garland PL or SMU AWARE have ads?
Which is updated more often, Garland PL or SMU AWARE?
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