Borrowing a Book

On Agathos Books, books are shared so they get read — don’t be shy about borrowing one. Here’s how the request, pickup, and loan flow works end to end.

Finding a Book

Open any book to see where it’s available across the libraries you belong to. The book page shows, for each library:

Available — at least one copy is ready to borrow right now
All copies loaned out — every copy is checked out (you can join the waitlist)
Not in this library — the library doesn’t carry this title

If the book is available in more than one of your libraries, you’ll pick which one to borrow from in the next step.

Requesting the Book

Tap Request to Borrow from the book page (tap the book cover from any page). Under the button you’ll see a short summary — which library, who’s lending when known, and how long loans last at that library.
If the book is at more than one library, choose which one
If more than one person (or the library and a member) has a copy, pick who you want to borrow from — or choose Let the system pick for me
Confirm. The dialog shows who you’re requesting from (when known), the loan length (how many days you’ll have the book after you check it out), and pickup details for library-owned copies

What happens next depends on how that library handles requests:

Auto-approved (self-service) — the copy is set out for immediate checkout. The loan is approved instantly and the pickup spot (with photo and directions) appears right away — head to the spot, take the book, and tap Check out.
Needs staff retrieval — the book is kept in storage, so a library volunteer fetches it and either hands it to you in person or sets it out at a pickup spot. While you wait, the loan shows “Waiting for a library admin at [Library]”. You’ll be notified once it’s ready.
From a member — a fellow member owns this copy (you’ll see their name when there’s one clear lender, or when you pick them). They get notified and decide whether to lend it. They’ll choose a handoff method when they approve. If you let the system pick, any available member may receive the request.

If no copies are available, the same button reads Join Waitlist — see Joining a waitlist. You’ll see your place in queue and be notified once it’s available.

Tracking Your Request

Go to Loans → Borrowing to see every active request and loan. The card shows the current status and the next action (if any is on you).

Picking Up the Book

For self-service books the copy is already set out at the pickup spot — the spot is shown on the book page and in your notification, so you can collect it and check out immediately. Otherwise the lender (or a library volunteer) sets the book out at the pickup spot or arranges a direct handoff, and you’ll get a notification when it’s ready.

Go to the pickup spot shown in the notification
Pick up the book
Tap Check out (self-service) or Confirm Pickup in the app to start the loan

If your lender already gave you the book but forgot to mark it dropped off, the loan may still say On Its Way. Tap I Have the Book on the loan card to start the loan anyway.

Pickup window: You have 7 days to pick up the book. After that the loan is cancelled, the book goes to the next person waiting, and missing the window affects your reliability score.

Direct handoff: Some loans skip the pickup spot — you and the lender meet in person and both confirm the handoff in the app. The loan timer starts when you confirm pickup either way.

Add it to your calendar: When a book is ready, tap Add to calendar on the loan to save the pickup. In the app, your calendar opens with the event already filled in — including the library location, so your calendar can remind you and map the way — and you just tap Add.

During Your Loan

Loan length — each library sets its own length (typically 21 days, range 7–90). You’ll see that length on the book page before you request, and again in the confirm dialog. The due date starts when you check out, not when you request.
Reminders — 3 days before the due date, on the due date, and once the loan is overdue
Add to your calendar — tap Add to calendar on the loan (on the book page, it’s the calendar icon next to the due date) to save the due date. In the app it opens your phone’s calendar with the event ready to add; in a web browser you can pick Google, Apple, or Outlook. It’s an extra, self-set reminder; you’ll still get the app notifications either way.
Returning — go to Loans, open the loan, and tap Return Book. See Returning books for the full flow.

Renewing a Loan

Need more time? Starting 7 days before the due date (and any time while overdue) you can renew it:

Open the loan from Loans or the book page
Tap Renew and choose how many days you need

No one is waiting: extension is auto-approved. You can renew again the next time you need more time — there’s no cap as long as the book has no waitlist.
Someone is on the waitlist: the lender decides. If they don’t respond within 48 hours, the request is auto-declined. When a waitlist exists, you’re limited to one renewal per loan so the lender isn’t pestered repeatedly.

Each renewal is capped by the library’s per-renewal limit (typically 14 days at a time).

Lenders Can Give You More Time

Lenders and library admins can also push your due date out without you asking. If a lender does this you’ll get a notification (“{their name} gave you more days”) with the new due date — no action needed on your end.

Cancelling a Request

You can cancel any time before the book is in your hands — while it’s pending, being dropped off, or waiting at the pickup spot. Open the loan and tap Cancel Request. The book becomes available for the next person in line.

Once you’ve picked up the book, return it instead of cancelling.

Still Need Help?

If you’re stuck on a request or pickup, contact support.