Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 17, 2024

Our Commitment to Privacy

LibriShelf ("we", "our", or "the App") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you use our App. Our core principle is simple: your data belongs to you and stays with you.

Local-First Philosophy

LibriShelf is designed with a local-first philosophy, meaning all your data is stored locally on your device. We fundamentally believe in your right to privacy and data ownership.

All of the following data is stored ONLY on your device:

  • Your book library (titles, authors, ISBNs, etc.)
  • Reading progress and page counts
  • Personal ratings and reviews
  • Reading statistics and history
  • Custom shelves and organization
  • App preferences and settings
  • Theme customizations
  • Reading timer sessions
  • Any other data you create in the App

We do NOT collect, transmit, store, or have access to any of this information.

Information We Do NOT Collect

To be absolutely clear, LibriShelf does NOT collect:

  • Personal information (name, email, phone number, etc.)
  • Your book library data
  • Reading habits, statistics, or history
  • Device information or identifiers
  • Location data
  • Usage analytics or telemetry
  • Crash reports or diagnostics
  • IP addresses
  • Any personally identifiable information

The App functions entirely offline and does not communicate with our servers because we don't have any servers to communicate with.

Features That Connect to the Internet

While LibriShelf is primarily offline, certain optional features may connect to third-party services:

1. ISBN Barcode Scanning

When you scan a book's barcode to add it to your library:

  • The ISBN number is sent to external book databases (such as Google Books API) to retrieve book information
  • Only the ISBN is transmitted - no personal information is included
  • The book metadata (title, author, cover, etc.) is returned and stored locally on your device
  • This feature is optional - you can always add books manually without scanning

These third-party services have their own privacy policies:

2. Backup Export

The App allows you to export your library as a backup file:

  • You choose where to save the backup (device storage or your personal cloud storage)
  • The backup file is created locally on your device
  • If you save to cloud storage, that data is subject to your cloud provider's privacy policy
  • We do not have access to your backup files

Data Storage and Security

All your data is stored in a local database on your device using industry-standard SQLite. The security of your data depends on the security of your device.

We recommend:

  • Using device encryption (enabled by default on modern devices)
  • Setting up a device lock screen (PIN, password, fingerprint, or face recognition)
  • Keeping your device and the App updated to the latest versions
  • Regularly creating backups of your library using the export feature

Third-Party Services

LibriShelf may interact with the following third-party services, each with their own privacy policies:

  • Google Books API - For ISBN lookup when scanning books. See Google's Privacy Policy
  • Your Cloud Storage Provider - If you choose to save backups to cloud storage (iCloud, Google Drive, etc.), your data is subject to their privacy policy
  • Apple App Store - App downloads and updates are managed by Apple. See Apple's Privacy Policy

We do not control these third-party services and are not responsible for their privacy practices.

Children's Privacy

LibriShelf does not knowingly collect any information from anyone, including children under 13. The App is safe for users of all ages because we don't collect any personal data.

Since all data stays on the device, parents can feel confident that their children's reading activities remain private.

Your Rights and Control

Since all data is stored on your device, you have complete control:

  • Access: You can view all your data within the App at any time
  • Export: You can export your entire library as a JSON file using the backup feature
  • Delete: You can delete individual books, shelves, or all data within the App
  • Complete Removal: Uninstalling the App will remove all data from your device
  • Portability: Your exported backup files are in a standard JSON format

You don't need to contact us to exercise any of these rights because you already have full control of your data.

Data Retention

Your data is retained on your device for as long as you choose to keep the App installed. We do not retain any of your data because we never receive it in the first place.

If you uninstall the App, all locally stored data will be removed from your device. We strongly recommend creating a backup before uninstalling if you wish to preserve your library.

International Users

LibriShelf can be used anywhere in the world. Since all data is stored locally on your device, there are no international data transfers to worry about. Your data stays in your country, on your device.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. We will notify users of any material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

Continued use of the App after changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes acceptance of those changes. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). However, since LibriShelf does not collect any personal information, these provisions are not applicable. We have no personal information to disclose, sell, or delete.

European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, since LibriShelf does not collect or process any personal data, these regulations are not applicable. There is no data controller or processor because there is no data collection.

Do Not Track

LibriShelf does not track users, so Do Not Track (DNT) signals are not applicable. We don't track you whether you enable DNT or not.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us through:

However, please note that we cannot help you recover lost data, as we do not have access to any user data. Always maintain backups of important information.

Transparency

We believe in complete transparency about data practices. This Privacy Policy reflects our genuine commitment to user privacy. We built LibriShelf specifically to be a privacy-first app because we believe that your reading habits and personal library are nobody's business but yours.

Back to Home