Connecting People through
Good Books
Share and discover good books with your church, school, or small group. Set up your shared library in minutes.
See how good books start moving
Agathos Books turns the bookshelves of your church community into one shared library.
One Shared Library, From All Our Shelves
Agathos Books is a Christian platform for sharing physical books. Members add the books they already own, so the trusted books in your community become easy to find, borrow, recommend, and talk about.
For Churches
- Serve your church by sharing the good books members already own
- Set it up yourself in minutes
- Library admins approve every book and every member
- Books stay on members’ shelves until they lend them
For Schools & Co-ops
- Families and teachers share books from home
- For students 13 and older
- Optional parent supervision for teens
- For Christian schools and homeschool co-ops
For Groups
- Everyone shares from their own shelves
- Christian book clubs, Bible studies, ministries
- Invite-only: you choose who joins
- The Free plan fits most small groups
Members Share Books from Their Own Shelves
Most book-sharing tools assume one organization owns all the books. Agathos Books lets members share their personal books straight from home—nothing to donate, box up, or drop off. Their books stay put until someone asks to borrow one.
- Library-owned books can be borrowed right away from the open shelf
- A member’s book lends only when its owner says yes
- Library leaders choose which books appear in the catalog
- Your collection grows without growing your budget
How Agathos Books Works
Set up your library once. After that, members borrow, read, and return on their own—the reminders and tracking run in the background.
Create your shared library
For the organizer — a few minutes, just once.
Not the one who’d run it? Sign up anyway, then send your pastor or group leader a one-tap invitation. You’re added automatically when they start the library.
- 1
Create your library
A quick setup wizard walks you through it. Most libraries are ready in minutes.
- 2
Add your books
Point your phone camera at a barcode—title, author, and cover fill in automatically. Members add books from their own shelves, too.
- 3
Invite your community
Share a link or QR code. Pick how people join: they ask and you approve, or they join instantly.
Borrow, read, return
For members — what borrowing a book looks like.
- 1
Ask
Tap Borrow on any book to ask for it.
- 2
Approved
Instant for library books on the open shelf. For a member’s book, the owner says yes—their book, their call.
- 3
Pick it up
From the library’s shelf, from the owner in person, or at a pickup spot.
- 4
Read & return
Gentle reminders before the due date, easy renewals, and the book goes back to its owner.
The logistics are handled for you—so your community can spend its time on the books, not the paperwork.
Reading Is Social
Share what you're reading. Find your next book through trusted sources.
See What Others Read
Discover books your community members are reading. See their progress, discover featured picks, and find your next great read.
See Who Recommends This Book
Every book shows who in your library recommends it and who's reading it now. Discover your next read through people you trust.
Start Conversations
"What are you reading?" is a natural conversation starter. Shared books lead to shared discussions.
Sharing Is Your Choice
One switch shows your profile and reading activity—recommendations, progress, and stats—to the members of your libraries, or keeps it private. Change it anytime.
John is reading
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Sarah finished
The Holiness of God
Mike recommends
Mere Christianity
Sarah Mitchell
23 books read this year
Making All Things New
David Powlison
Books You Can Trust
Every book on Agathos Books passes two gates before anyone borrows it.
Watch how it works (46 seconds)Gate 1 · Our standard
Good books that point to truth
- Sound
- Faithful to Scripture. Does not promote sin or contradict core biblical doctrine, and is not contrary to God's design and purpose.
- Pure
- Content that is edifying. Does not promote, glorify, or normalize sin. Protects communities from content that would lead readers away from the way of life presented in God's word.
- True
- Reflects reality honestly. A business book teaching integrity reflects God's design. Classic literature exploring the human condition can illuminate our need for redemption.
- Beneficial
- Equips readers with wisdom for godly living. Books that shape minds, change hearts, and build communities—whether through theology, fiction, history, or practical skills.
Gate 2 · Your library
You decide what fits your community
- Choose whether the books members add need a library leader’s approval before they appear in your catalog.
- Trust specific members, authors, or publishers so their books skip the queue (Growth plan and up).
- Good books across many genres: theology, fiction, history, biography, parenting, and practical skills. Not merely the genre, but its alignment with truth.
This is not a general book platform, by design. We hold to the truths in the Bible because we love people as God loves people—pointing them to truth and protecting them from error.
Why Agathos Books?
"Agathos" — the Greek word meaning "good"
We believe good books change lives. That's why we built Agathos Books: to make it easy to share and discover them within your own trusted communities.
My Christian testimony cannot be told without speaking of the major impact that good books have had in my life—books that are faithful to Scripture and helpfully communicate its principles, meaning, and practical application.
I did not have strong mentors growing up, but God graciously connected me with many good books that helped grow and mature me. Faithful authors became teachers, pointing me again and again to Christ and His word.
— Greg, Founder of Agathos Books
Books Shape Lives
God's word is powerful. Good books use Scripture as the supreme authority—truth that truly transforms lives.
Books Build Community
"What are you reading?" opens profound doors—to genuine connection, discipleship, mentorship, and friendship.
Books Require Curation
We're intentionally opinionated—curating excellent content that edifies, while protecting from destructive error.
Imagine a church where personal collections are shared generously—a grandparent's shelf inspiring the next generation, and good books passed hand to hand, all pointing people deeper into God's word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Agathos Books
How much does it cost?
Free to start, no credit card required, and the Free plan has no time limit. It includes everything most small groups need. Paid plans add more books and members when you outgrow it. See pricing.
I’m a member, not a leader. Can I still get started?
Yes. If your church, school, or group already has a library, join with its invite link or QR code. If it doesn’t, sign up and use Ask your leader to start it to send your pastor or leader a one-tap invitation—you’re added automatically when they start the library. How joining works.
How does lending work?
Members request books in the app. Library books on the open shelf can be borrowed right away. A member's own book lends only when its owner says yes, and they hand it over in person or leave it at a pickup spot. Due-date reminders and renewals are automatic.
What makes Agathos Books different?
Members add books from their own shelves at home, so your library grows with every member instead of your budget. Traditional library tools can't do this, because they're built for collections an institution owns.
Can multiple people manage the library?
Yes. The Free plan has one admin (the library owner). Growth adds up to 3 admin seats, and Plus and Pro have unlimited seats, so volunteer teams can share the work.
Do I need technical skills?
No. Point your phone camera at a book's barcode—the title, author, and cover fill in automatically. Most people are up and running in minutes.
Who is Agathos Books for?
Churches, Christian schools and homeschool co-ops, and Christian groups like book clubs, Bible studies, and campus ministries. Every book meets a curation standard, so it’s built for communities of faith rather than the general public.
Which countries is Agathos Books available in?
Agathos Books is available in most countries worldwide. A small number of countries are unavailable due to payment-processing and international sanctions restrictions. See the full list.
Is there a mobile app?
Yes. Download Agathos Books free on the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android). You can also use your browser on any device—the same account works everywhere. Learn more about the mobile app.
Who can see what I'm reading?
Your profile and reading activity have a single on/off switch in Settings → Privacy. When it’s on, members of the libraries you’ve joined can see your profile and reading milestones—like starting or finishing a book—while your email and phone number stay private. When it’s off, your profile and activity are hidden from other members (you can hide past activity too). Library admins can still see reading and lending activity within their own library, and teens 13–17 start hidden by default. Learn more in Privacy and your data.
Is there advertising?
Agathos Books has no banner ads and no ad networks, and we never sell your data. We're a mission-driven company focused on a clean, distraction-free reading experience.
Ready to Start?
Start a library for your church, school, or group, or join the one your community already has. The Free plan has everything you need to begin.
Join us in connecting people to good books that point to Jesus.
Good books shape lives. Agathos Books makes it easy to share them.