Book Sharing Built for
Churches
Share books as a congregation, let members contribute from their own shelves, and see what your community is reading—all in one simple app.
Book Sharing for Your Church
Agathos Books is a Christian platform for sharing physical books within your congregation. Turn your church's collection into a working shared library—and let members add books from their own shelves at home, so your catalog can grow many times over without growing your budget. See what your congregation is reading and help more people discover good books that strengthen faith.
Your Congregation Already Owns Great Books
Most library tools assume the church owns every book on the shelf. Agathos Books lets members share their personal books straight from home—a pastor's study, a deacon's theology collection, a member's parenting library. Nothing to donate or box up. Their books stay put until someone requests one.
- Members scan and contribute their personal books
- Book owners approve each lending request
- Admins curate which books appear in the catalog
- Library-owned books are auto-approved for convenience
Everyone shares from their own shelves at home
David +100 books 
Hannah +92 books 
Daniel +78 books 
Grace +95 books 
Sofia +85 books Shared Book Library
10x larger without spending a dime
How Agathos Books Works
Set up your church library once. After that, members borrow, read, and return on their own—the reminders and tracking run in the background.
Create your church library
For the organizer — about 10 minutes, just once.
Create your church library
A quick setup wizard walks you through initial setup. Easily completed in under 10 minutes.
Add your books
Point your phone camera at a barcode—title, author, and cover fill in automatically. Adding books is quick and easy!
Invite your congregation
Send an invite and members join in seconds, then browse the catalog and request the books they want to read.
Borrow, read, return
For members — what borrowing a book looks like.
Request
Tap any book to ask to borrow it.
Approved
Instant for library books, or a quick yes from the member who owns it.
Pick it up
From the library's shelf, or meet the owner in person.
Read & return
Keep it for the loan period, then return it. Reminders and due dates are automatic.
The logistics are handled for you—so your congregation can spend its time on discipleship, not paperwork.
Everything Your Church Needs to Share Books
Modern tools designed for how church communities actually work
Self-Service Checkout
Members check out books themselves—no library cards, no checkout desk. Church-owned books auto-approve for instant lending.
Team Admin Seats
On Growth or Plus, add admin seats for staff and volunteers—share the workload across your team.
Custom Library Tags
Organize your collection with custom tags like 'Women's Ministry', 'Small Groups', or 'Youth'. Members can create personal tags too.
Automated Lending
Due date reminders, return notifications, and automatic waitlists. Less work for volunteers, fewer lost books.
Reading Challenges
Create congregation-wide reading challenges that unite your church. Celebrate progress together and build a culture of biblical literacy.
Curated Content
Approve which books are included in your library. Curate excellent content across many genres that aligns with biblical principles.
Reading Is Social
Share what you're reading. Find your next book through trusted voices in your congregation.
See What Your Congregation Reads
Discover books members are reading. See progress, featured picks, and find your next great read through trusted voices in your church.
See Who Loves This Book
Every book shows who else has favorited it and who's currently reading it—great for small groups and discipleship conversations.
Start Conversations
"What are you reading?" opens doors to mentorship, fellowship, and shared growth around good books.
Sharing Is Your Choice
A single switch shows a member’s profile and reading activity to the congregation, or keeps it private—anytime.
John is reading
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Sarah finished
The Holiness of God
Mike favorited
Mere Christianity
Sarah Mitchell
23 books read this year
Making All Things New
David Powlison
What Makes a Book "Good"?
Books that point people to the truth found in God's word
Fidelity to Scripture
Does not promote sin or contradict core biblical doctrine. They align with God's word and are 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.
An Intentionally Curated Platform
Agathos Books has a book approval process—by design. This is not a general book platform. We want to protect our communities from destructive content and curate excellent books that edify and strengthen faith.
We hold to the truths in the Bible precisely because we love people as God loves people—pointing them to truth, protecting from error.
Imagine Your Church...
Where the library is a vibrant hub of activity. Members discover books that strengthen their faith. Reading plans bring the congregation together. Personal collections are shared generously. All pointing people deeper into God's word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from pastors and church leaders
How much does it cost?
Free to start, no credit card required. The free tier works well for small churches. Paid plans add more books and members when you outgrow it.
How do member-contributed books work?
Members scan their personal books and add them to the church library. When someone requests a member-owned book, the owner gets a notification and can approve or decline. Library-owned books are auto-approved for immediate lending.
What if a book gets damaged or lost?
The system tracks lending behavior with a reliability score. Members who return books on time build trust. There's a dispute resolution process if issues arise. Book owners can decline requests from anyone they're concerned about.
Do volunteers need training?
No. Point your phone at a barcode, tap to add. Most of the work is automated—due date reminders, return notifications, waitlists. Volunteers spend less time managing books and more time building community.
How do we add our existing books?
Scan each book's barcode with your phone. The system looks up the title, author, and cover automatically. For large existing collections, contact us about bulk migration.
How do we keep people accountable for returns?
The system sends due date reminders and overdue notifications automatically. Members build a track record over time. Late returns drop significantly compared to manual tracking.
Can multiple people manage the library?
Yes, with any paid plan. The free tier includes one admin (the library owner). Growth and Plus add more admin seats so staff and volunteers can share responsibilities.
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.
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 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.
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?
Whether you're organizing an existing collection or starting fresh, your congregation already owns great books—now make them available to everyone.
Join us in connecting your church to good books that point to Jesus.
Free to start. No credit card required.