A plain-language draft that describes how the app works today. It is not legal advice and has not been reviewed by a lawyer.
What stays on your device
Your books, ratings, notes, journal pages, quotes, reading sessions, profile name and photo, and the look you picked are saved in this browser’s own storage (localStorage). Covers you photograph and aesthetic cards you save are kept in the browser too (IndexedDB).
None of it is sent to us. That also means we cannot get it back for you: clearing this site’s data, using a private window or moving to a new phone starts an empty shelf. A backup copy is the way to keep it.
Backup copies
“Save a copy” builds a file on your device. It goes wherever you save or send it — we never receive it. Photos are not included in the file.
Looking up a book
When you search for a book or scan a barcode, the title, author or ISBN you entered goes to our server, which asks Open Library and Google Booksfor matches. Opening a book can also ask them for its public ratings, using its title and author. Our server makes these requests itself, so those services do not get your device’s address from them.
Covers are pictures from covers.openlibrary.org and books.google.com. Some load straight into your browser, so those services can see your device’s IP address, as with any picture on the web.
Camera and photos
The camera is used only when you scan a barcode or photograph a cover, and only after you allow it. The barcode is read on your device; camera frames are not saved or sent. A cover photo is stored in this browser and is not uploaded.
Fonts and icons
The icons are a font loaded from Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com), so Google receives your IP address and browser details when the app opens. The text fonts are served by the app itself.
Sharing
Sharing your year card or an invite link uses your phone’s own share sheet. It goes only to the person or app you choose.
What we don’t do
- No analytics, tracking pixels or advertising.
- No tracking cookies.
- No accounts, so no profile about you on our side.
- Nothing sold or shared.
Like any website, the service that hosts the app may keep short technical logs (such as IP address and the page requested) to keep it running and secure.
“Tell me when it opens”
If you leave an email on the upgrade page, it is stored on this device only and is not sent anywhere. You can remove it there at any time.
Questions
Write to [contact email]. If this page changes, the date at the top changes with it.