Library Types and Visibility
Choose the right library type and visibility settings to match how your community shares books.
Library Types
Section titled “Library Types”When you create a library, you’ll choose from four types:
| Type | Best For | Default Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| Church | Congregations, parishes, places of worship | Public |
| School | Schools, homeschool co-ops, study groups | Private |
| Family | Family book collections, household sharing | Private |
| Community | Book clubs, neighborhood libraries, organizations | Public |
Your library type helps organize your collection and determines your default settings. You can always change the visibility after creating your library.
Family Libraries
Section titled “Family Libraries”Family libraries have a streamlined experience designed for personal and household use:
- Faster setup — skip the address step during creation (you can add one later if you want neighbors to discover your library)
- No library-owned books — all books belong to individual members who share them; there’s no concept of “the library owns this book”
- Auto-approve by default — books shared by family members are automatically approved, and loan requests are automatically accepted
- Simplified admin — the moderation and library books management sections are hidden since they don’t apply
[Screenshot: library type selection during creation]
Public vs Private Libraries
Section titled “Public vs Private Libraries”Public Libraries
Section titled “Public Libraries”Public libraries can be discovered by anyone searching for libraries in your area.
How discovery works:
- Your library appears in search results for users within your configured distance (up to 100 miles)
- Anyone can see your library name, description, and book count
- Users must request to join—you approve or decline each request
Public libraries are ideal for churches, community centers, and organizations that want to grow their membership.
[Screenshot: public library appearing in discovery search results]
Private Libraries
Section titled “Private Libraries”Private libraries are invitation-only and won’t appear in search results.
How access works:
- Only people you invite can see or join your library
- You send invitations by email to specific people
- Invitations expire after 14 days if not accepted
Private libraries are perfect for families, small groups, and study circles where you know everyone who should have access.
[Screenshot: sending an invitation to a private library]
Changing Visibility Settings
Section titled “Changing Visibility Settings”Library owners can switch between public and private at any time:
- Open your library
- Tap Settings
- Tap Privacy & Discovery
- Toggle between Public and Private
- Tap Save
When switching to public:
- You’ll need to confirm your library address
- Set a discovery radius (how far away people can find you)
- Your library will appear in search results immediately
When switching to private:
- Your library disappears from search results
- Pending join requests are automatically cancelled
- Existing members keep their access
Discovery Radius
Section titled “Discovery Radius”For public libraries, you control how far away people can discover your library:
- Small radius (5-10 miles): Neighborhood-focused
- Medium radius (25 miles): City or regional reach
- Large radius (50-100 miles): Wide area coverage
Consider your community’s geography. A city church might use 10 miles, while a rural community library might use 50 miles.
- Start private, go public later—You can always open up your library once you’re comfortable with the setup
- Update your address if you move—Discovery depends on accurate location information
Related Articles
Section titled “Related Articles”Still Need Help?
Section titled “Still Need Help?”If you have questions about library types or visibility, contact support.