Please see our Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) below! For more in-depth support articles, hop over to our tutorials page, or if you have a question that isn’t answered here, please feel free to get in touch.
How does it work?
Magic! No, not really. The web app allows you and your users to access your library via a simple API, which is provided within your Google Drive from a Google sheet that you own. We supply the code, support and the web app. All you need to do is provide the library!
Will users require new usernames & passwords?
No We integrate with Google logins, so you don’t need to do anything apart from tell us the domain name that your users use when you subscribe!
Is there a demo?
Yes You can try out the web-app with our simple demo library. This is a fully features library, with the ability to both explore and manage the library (loan and return books etc.). In normal usage, library management is a privilege that you can assign to a subset of your users, so they those pages & buttons would not be visible for most people. The loans, requests and returns that you record in this demo are only visible to the user that created them, and will reset back to nothing after about an hour.
How do I manage a Calibre Library?
To manage your library catalog, you need to use the free Calibre software. This can be run on PC, Mac or Linux and also on Cloudready Chromebooks / Chromeboxes.
Can I use an existing Calibre Library?
Yes If you have an existing Calibre library, you can host this in Google Drive. Our app will provide you with the ability to view and search it, plus read license-free epub-format books if you wish!
Can my users request loans?
Yes If you want to operate a queuing or click and collect service, then you can allow your users to request loans. Just tick the ‘Can requests be made for loans with this Library’ option on your library settings page. Requests will show up on your management page and can quickly be converted to a loan.
How can I subscribe?
Subscribing is quick and easy. Head over to our pricing page and choose your subscription tier. Then you will need to fill in a few quick details (name of your library, and your domain if you are subscribing as an organisation). Payments are by card and handled by Stripe. As soon as your payment has been processed, you will receive an email with a link to create your Library Loan sheet, and activate your library. If you already have a Calibre library set up, you can be up and running in just a few minutes!
Can I Import my existing Library Data?
If you already have your library in Calibre, you don’t need to do anything! Just open your library settings and point it towards your Calibre database (normally named metadata.db and found in the root of your Calibre Library folder) and your Calibre library folder. That’s it, everything should now be online and accessible.
If you have data in an alternate format or system, we are always happy to offer advice and support on the best way to convert it (we have done lots of conversion ourselves!). If you would like us to convert it for you, we can normally quote for this service - but the cost and time required will be dependent on how much data you have and what sort of format it is currently in. Please get in touch with us to kick off a conversation about how we can best help!
What access levels are available in the app?
There are three levels of access available in the web-app.
Administrators can access the settings page for a library. This allows them to assign managers and configure the libary contents, capabilities and services.
Managers have access to the management page for the library, and can manage loans (mark items as loaned / returned) as well as viewing historical data and item requests.
Users can explore the library. They can search for items, check their availability, and make requests for loans if the library has this feature enabled. They can also read books online if license free e-books are stored in the library and this feature is enabled by a library administrator.