Your bookshelf can help your child's whole class.
The books from older siblings, past school years and your own shelf are often exactly what's on this year's reading lists. List them for your child, save on every new list, and help other families do the same.
No student at the school anymore? Give your books to a family →What parents can do
Stay as involved as you like, from listing a few books to helping launch it at your school.
Listing your family's books
Link to your child
Your child invites you from their account, or you sign up with your email and your child's school.
Scan your shelf
Scan the barcode on each book. Title and cover fill in, and we flag books on a reading list at your child's school.
Hand off at school
When a classmate requests a book, you or your child drop it at the library desk with the pickup code.
Join as a parent
Help your school get started
Tell us your child's school. When enough families and a librarian sign up, we launch there, and we'll email you first.
- $Save on every reading listBorrow assigned books from classmates instead of buying new copies each term.
- 📚Put your bookshelf to workBooks from older siblings and past years go to students who need them now.
- ✓Safe for your childNo names, no messaging, and every hand-off happens at school.
- ♻Teaches sharingKids build a reliability score and badges by keeping their word.
Sign up as a parent
We'll let you know when School Book Share comes to your child's school.
Community give-aways
Kids graduated? Your books can still help.
🎁 Give-away onlyYou don't need a student at the school to help. Graduated families, grandparents, retirees and neighbors can give the books on their shelves to a family who needs them. Parents and guardians make the hand-off, not the school and never the students.
- 🧑🤝🧑Adults only. A parent or guardian picks up the book. Students never meet or message anyone.
- ✅Verified adults. Everyone confirms their email and phone number before they can give or receive.
- 📍Public spots only. Hand-offs happen at places like a public library or a police safe exchange zone. No home addresses.
- 🔒Private messaging. Arrange the hand-off in the app, without sharing phone numbers or emails.
- 🤝Both confirm. Giver and receiver tap "handed off" when it's done, and both earn trust on their cards.
- 🚩Report a problem. Anyone can flag an issue, and we can pause accounts.
Become a community donor
Tell us where you are and what you might give. We'll let you know when community give-aways open in your area.
Part of a PTO or parent group?
One parent group can bring School Book Share to a whole school. We'll help you pitch it to your librarian and principal.
Parent questions
My kids have graduated. Can I still give books?
Yes. Sign up as a community donor. You'll list the books you want to give, and when a family needs one, a parent or guardian meets you at a public spot like the library to pick it up.
How do family-to-family give-aways work?
Only adults are involved. You arrange a time in the app without sharing your phone number or email, meet at a public spot, hand over the book, and both of you confirm it in the app.
Can families lend books to each other outside of school?
Not right now. Outside of school, books are give-away only, so nobody has to arrange a return. Lending and swapping happen through the school library.
Do I need my own account?
You'll sign in with your own email and link to your child's school account. Books you list show up under your child, so they count toward your child's shares and trust card. See how sign-up works.
My child is in middle school. Can they join?
Not yet. We're starting with high school and college students, and plan to add middle schools later. Sign up below with your child's school, and we'll let you know when middle schools are added. You can still list your family's books for an older child, or give them away as a community donor.
Will other families see my name?
No. Other students and parents only see a trust card with a reliability score, number of shares and badges. Only the school librarian can see who is who.
Can I list books my child isn't using right now?
Yes. Older siblings' books, last year's reading list, or your own copies of the classics are all welcome. If a book is on any teacher's reading list at the school, a student will probably need it.
Who drops the book off at school?
Either you or your child. Books can be left at the library desk, or the front office if your school allows it, with the pickup code. You'll both get the reminders.
Can I approve each lend?
Yes. You can choose to approve every request before your child's book is lent, or let your child decide.
Can we donate books instead of lending them?
Yes. Choose "Give it away" on any book, or donate books to your school's share shelf when your child moves up or graduates.
Does it cost anything?
No. School Book Share is free for families, students and schools.