Bibliocapsa is a personal book catalog and reader. It is built to keep your data yours. We do not run analytics, we do not track you, we do not show ads, and we never sell or share your information for marketing. This policy explains what data the app handles and where it goes.
Short Version
- Your library lives on your device, and—if you choose—in your own private iCloud or on your own self-hosted server. We never receive it.
- The app developer operates no servers and collects no personal data.
- Identifying a book by its cover or barcode sends a lookup to third-party book databases (described below), used only to find the book.
- No tracking, no advertising, no analytics SDKs.
Information Stored on Your Device
- Your catalog — books, shelves, reading progress, ratings, and whether you own a physical and/or digital copy. Stored locally using Apple's on-device database.
- Credentials — if you connect a self-hosted server or add an optional Google API key, these are stored in the iOS Keychain, encrypted by the system and kept only on this device (not included in backups and not synced to iCloud Keychain).
- Cover photos you take or choose — used as the cover image for a book you add. Stored with that book's record.
Optional iCloud Sync
If you choose the iCloud backend, your catalog is synced through your own private iCloud account using Apple's CloudKit. This data resides in your iCloud and is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. The developer has no access to it.
Optional Self-Hosted Server
If you connect Bibliocapsa to your own self-hosted server, the app communicates only with the address you provide, using credentials you control. That data stays between your device and your server.
Identifying and Looking Up Books
To add a book, the app can identify it from a barcode or cover. Depending on what you do, the following may happen:
- On-device text recognition (OCR) reads a cover's text using Apple's on-device Vision framework. This stays on your device.
- Cover image recognition (optional). Only if you add your own Google API key, a cover photo may be sent to Google Cloud Vision — through your own Google Cloud project — to identify the book. Without a key, this does not happen.
- Title / ISBN lookups send the recognized or typed text to Google Books and Open Library to retrieve book details (title, author, publisher, cover, ISBN).
These requests contain only the information needed to find the book (an image, title text, or an ISBN). They are used solely to return book details, which are then saved to your local catalog. Bibliocapsa does not attach your identity to these requests. Your use of these services is also subject to Google's Privacy Policy and Open Library's Privacy Policy.
Camera and Photo Access
The app requests camera access to scan barcodes and capture covers, and photo access (through the system picker) so you can choose an existing photo as a cover. Images are used only for these purposes.
What We Do Not Do
- No advertising and no ad networks.
- No analytics or third-party tracking SDKs.
- No selling, renting, or sharing of your data.
- No developer-operated account or server that holds your data.
Data Retention and Deletion
Your catalog remains until you delete it. You can remove individual books, and signing out of a server clears its stored credentials. Deleting the app removes its on-device data; data you synced to your own iCloud or server is managed there by you.
Children
Bibliocapsa is not directed at children and does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone.
Changes to This Policy
If this policy changes, the "Last updated" date above will change and the revised policy will be posted here.
Contact
Questions about privacy? Contact info@jwapps.app.