Privacy Policy
Last updated: 8 June 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Ross Delport, the developer of iBookshelf (“we”, “us”, or “our”), collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects your information when you use the iBookshelf mobile app and this website (together, the “Service”).
Who we are
iBookshelf is a personal book-library app that lets you scan, organize, and track the books you own so you always know your collection, and never buy the same book twice. For any privacy question or request, contact us at privacy@ibookshelf.app.
Information we collect
We only collect what we need to run iBookshelf. The table below summarizes the data we handle, followed by more detail on each category.
| Data | Examples | Why we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Account & sign-in | Email address and password (the password is stored encrypted/hashed by our authentication provider), or, if you use Google sign-in, your Google account email and basic profile details. A unique account identifier. | Create and secure your account, and sign you in. |
| Library & reading data | Books you add (ISBN, title, author, cover, page count, publication year, genres, description) and your entries about them: shelf/status, current page, ratings, reviews, personal notes, and start/finish dates. | The core feature. Store and sync your library and reading progress. |
| Profile & personalization | Username, favourite genres, chosen avatar, “soul animal”, library size, and any custom shelves you create. | Personalize the app and keep it consistent across your devices. |
| Custom cover photos | If you choose a cover from your photo library, that image is uploaded to our cloud storage and served from a publicly accessible URL. | Display and sync your custom covers across devices. |
| Purchases | If you buy Premium, your subscription/entitlement status. Payment is processed by Apple or Google, and we never receive your full card details. | Provide and restore Premium features. |
| Camera (not stored) | A live camera feed used only to read a book’s barcode on your device. | Scan barcodes to add books. The image is processed on your device and is not stored or sent to us. |
| Technical & connection | Network connectivity status, and a sign-in token and pending-changes queue stored locally on your device. | Keep your library reliably synced and keep you signed in. |
We do not collect your precise location, your contacts, or advertising identifiers, and we do not use third-party advertising networks or third-party analytics SDKs.
How we use your information
- Provide, operate, and maintain the Service, including storing and syncing your library.
- Authenticate you and keep your account secure.
- Provide, restore, and manage Premium features you purchase.
- Respond to your support requests and send you important service notices.
- Detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, or misuse.
- Comply with our legal obligations.
For users in the EEA, UK, and other regions where this applies, our legal bases are: performance of our agreement with you (our Terms), our legitimate interests in operating and securing the Service, your consent (for example, camera and photo access), and compliance with law.
Where your data is stored and who processes it
Your account and library are stored using Supabase, our hosting, database, authentication, and file-storage provider. Access is restricted by per-user security rules so that only you, signed in to your own account, can read or change your data. The one exception is custom cover images, which are served from a public URL so they can load across your devices.
Third-party services
- Supabase: hosting, database, authentication, and file storage for your account and library.
- Google: Google Sign-In (only if you choose it) and the Google Books API. When you scan or search for a book, the ISBN or search text is sent to Google to return book details. Governed by Google’s Privacy Policy.
- Open Library (Internet Archive): book details and cover images. If a book isn’t found via Google, the ISBN is sent to Open Library.
- Apple App Store and Google Play: process Premium purchases and subscriptions under their own terms and privacy policies.
We do not sell or rent your personal data. Where we share data with a service provider, they are required to protect it to a standard at least equal to this policy and to use it only to provide their service to us.
Data retention
We keep your account and library data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account (see below), we permanently delete your data within 30 days, except where we are required to retain limited records to meet legal, tax, or accounting obligations. Data cached locally on your device is removed when you sign out or uninstall the app.
Your rights and choices
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, export, or delete your personal data, to object to or restrict certain processing, and to withdraw consent. To exercise any of these, email us at privacy@ibookshelf.app. You may also lodge a complaint with your local data-protection authority (in Australia, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner).
Deleting your account and data
You can delete your account and all associated cloud data at any time from within the iBookshelf app (in your profile / account settings), or by emailing us at privacy@ibookshelf.app. Once your request is confirmed, we permanently delete your account and library data within 30 days.
App permissions
iBookshelf requests the following device permissions, which are optional and used only for the stated purpose. You can grant or revoke them at any time in your device settings, though some features won’t work without them:
- Camera: to scan book barcodes and add them to your library.
- Photo library: only when you choose to set a custom cover image for a book.
Security
We protect your data in transit using HTTPS/TLS encryption, store passwords using industry-standard hashing through our authentication provider, and restrict access to your records with per-user access controls. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we work to protect your information and to address any issues promptly.
Children’s privacy
iBookshelf is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your country, for example 16 in parts of the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us at privacy@ibookshelf.app and we will delete it.
International data transfers
Your data may be processed and stored on servers located outside your country, including the data centres operated by our service providers. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards to protect your data when it is transferred internationally.
This website
This marketing website does not use cookies, third-party analytics, or tracking. It only opens your email app if you choose to contact us.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will revise the “Last updated” date above and, for material changes, provide notice in the app or on this site. Your continued use of the Service after an update means you accept the revised policy.
Contact us
Ross Delport (trading as iBookshelf)
Email: privacy@ibookshelf.app