Setting Up Your First Library

A library is where you organize and share books with others. Create one in under a minute.

Choosing a Library Type

When you create a library, you’ll pick a type that best describes your group:

Type	Best For	Default Privacy
Church	Congregations, parishes, places of worship	Public
School	Schools, homeschool co-ops, study groups	Private
Family	Family book collections, personal libraries	Private
Community	Book clubs, neighborhood libraries, organizations	Public

Don’t overthink it—you can always adjust settings later.

[Screenshot: library type selection screen showing the four options]

Public vs. Private Libraries

Public libraries can be discovered by people nearby. Someone searching for libraries in your area can find yours, view the books, and request to join. You approve each request before they become a member.

Private libraries are invitation-only. They won’t appear in search results, and new members can only join if you invite them directly.

Creating Your Library

1. Tap Create Library from your home screen (or during onboarding)
2. Enter a name for your library (e.g., “First Baptist Church Library” or “The Johnson Family Books”)
3. Choose your library type (church, school, family, or community)
4. Add your address — this helps members know where to pick up and return books
5. Decide if your library should be public or private
6. Tap Create Library

[Screenshot: library creation form with name, type, and address fields]

That’s it! Your library is ready. You can add a cover image and logo later in settings.

Setting Your Discovery Radius (Public Libraries)

If you made your library public, you can set a discovery radius—how far away people can be and still find your library in search. The default is 25 miles, but you can adjust this from 1 to 100 miles in your library settings.

What’s Next?

• Add some books — Scan barcodes or search by title to build your collection
• Invite members — Share your library with friends, family, or your community
• Customize your library — Add a cover image, description, or tweak member permissions

Tips

• Start simple — You can add a description, cover image, and logo anytime. Don’t let customization slow you down.
• Private works for small groups — If you’re sharing with just family or a small group, private keeps things simple.
• Public works for open communities — Churches and community groups usually want to be discoverable so new members can find them.

Related Articles

• Adding your first books
• Inviting family members
• Library types and visibility
• Managing library members

Still Need Help?

If you’re having trouble creating your library, contact support.