Share Books with
Family & Friends
Pool your books into one shared library. Invite anyone you want to share with—and see what your circle is reading.
Book Sharing for Your Home Library
Agathos Books lets you share physical books with the people you choose—family across town, friends down the street, relatives in another state. Each household contributes from their own shelves, so everyone's collection becomes available without boxing books up or giving them away. Private, invitation-only, and built for the people you trust.
Everyone's Books, One Shared Library
Your family and friends already own great books scattered across households. Agathos Books lets each person share from their own shelves at home—Grandpa's theology collection, Mom's parenting books, a neighbor's biography shelf. Request a book, pick it up at the next dinner or meetup.
- Family, friends, and neighbors each scan their personal books
- Everyone sees the combined collection
- Book owners approve loans—you stay in control
- Pass down books that shaped you to the next generation
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 home library once. After that, everyone borrows, reads, and returns on their own—the reminders and tracking run in the background.
Create your home library
For the organizer — about 10 minutes, just once.
Create your home 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 family and friends
Send an invite and loved ones join in seconds, then browse the combined catalog and request books to borrow.
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 circle can spend time reading together, not chasing returns.
Your Books, Finally Accessible
Share books across households, generations, and your circle of people
Private & Invitation-Only
Create a library just for the people you choose—family, friends, neighbors, or anyone you want to share with. Only people you invite can see and borrow books. Complete privacy and control.
Multi-Household Sharing
Every household contributes their books to the shared collection. Everyone can see what's available and request to borrow.
Personal Book Tags
Organize your collection with tags like 'For My Kids', 'Gift Ideas', or 'Book Club'. Create custom tags to categorize books your way.
Multiple Admins
On Growth or Plus, add admin seats so a spouse, grandparent, or trusted friend can help manage the library together.
See What Others Read
Activity feeds show what people in your library are reading. Get inspired by a friend's latest read or celebrate a child's reading milestone.
Build a Legacy
Pass down the books that shaped your faith. Your wisdom collection becomes accessible to children, grandchildren, and the people you care about.
Reading Is Social
Share what you're reading. Find your next book through family and friends you trust.
See What Your Circle Reads
Discover books family and friends are reading. See progress, celebrate milestones, and find your next great read through people you trust.
See Who Loves This Book
Every book shows who else has favorited it and who's currently reading it—perfect for gift ideas and shared recommendations.
Start Conversations
"What are you reading?" connects generations, sparks dinner-table discussions, and builds a family culture around good books.
Sharing Is Your Choice
Your home library is invitation-only, and a single switch shows or hides each member’s profile and reading activity for the group—anytime.
Grandpa Joe is reading
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Rachel finished
Hinds' Feet on High Places
Uncle Mark favorited
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Rachel Mitchell
18 books read this year
Hinds' Feet on High Places
Hannah Hurnard
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 Family...
Where reading is a shared journey across generations. Grandparents' books inspire grandchildren. Reading goals are celebrated together. Books become a legacy of wisdom and a heritage of faith passed down through the people you love.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private home libraries
How much does it cost?
Free to start, no credit card required. The free tier is generous enough for most home libraries—even extensive family collections.
Is our library private?
Yes. Your library is invitation-only. Only people you invite—family, friends, or neighbors—can see your library, browse books, or request loans. No public discovery.
How do book handoffs work?
When someone requests a book, the owner gets a notification and approves the loan. Hand it off at the next family dinner, drop it by their house, or coordinate however works for you. The system tracks who has the book.
How do member-contributed books work?
Each household scans their personal books and adds them to the shared home library. When someone requests a book, the owner approves the loan. You stay in control of what you share.
Can we give books permanently, not just lend?
Yes. You can transfer ownership within the system. If Grandpa wants to give a book to his grandson, he transfers ownership and the grandson becomes the book's owner.
Can children access a home library?
Users must be 13+ to have their own account. Children under 13 access books through a parent's account. For teens 13-17, optional parental supervision features provide visibility into reading activity.
How do we get started?
One person creates the library and invites others via email or shareable link. As each person joins, they scan and contribute their books. Most home libraries are up and running in under 10 minutes.
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?
Your family, friends, and neighbors already own great books scattered across households. Bring them together. Share what you've read. Pass it on.
Join us in connecting your circle to good books that shape lives.
Free for most home libraries. No credit card required.