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What’s new

New in Shelf Help

Last updated 2026-10-25

Each new thing you can do, newest first, with a picture of how it works.

  1. Rename a shelf right where you see it

    Open a shelf or bin and tap the pencil by its name. Type the new name and press Save. Changed your mind? Tap Undo.

    A shelf renamed right on its own page, with Undo 1 2
    1. Tap the pencil
    2. Changed your mind? Undo

  2. Shelf photos find more books

    A photo of a shelf now finds more of its books. In our tests on two shelves, it found 33 of 38 books, up from 22. A spine it can’t read shows with its picture, so you can name it.

    A whole shelf read from one photo: 12 books to check and add 1 2
    1. One photo, whole shelf
    2. Add them all at once

  3. Find a book to add, faster

    In Add books, Search for a book shows matches as you type. Tap one, and its cover and details fill in. The panel stays open while you work in it.

    Adding a book by search: Rebecca found after five letters 1 2
    1. Start typing a title
    2. Tap a match

  4. Tick off your books as a list

    On your library’s first page, switch from Spines to List. Each shelf shows as a checklist, so you can tick each book as you find it. Each shelf has its own print button too.

    The shelves as a checklist, with two books ticked 1 2 3
    1. Spines or a list
    2. Tick each book off
    3. Print one shelf

  5. Print just the shelves you want

    The printable shelf list lets you pick the shelves and bins to show. Print only those, or download them for Excel or as a CSV file.

    The printable shelf list, picked down to two shelves, with Excel and Print 1 2 3
    1. Pick the shelves to print
    2. Download for Excel
    3. Print it

  6. Ask us from inside the app

    Tap Help, the question mark at the top of the page. Write your question and press Send, and we’ll reply by email.

    The Help button’s message box, inside the app 1 2
    1. Ask us anything
    2. We reply by email

  7. Your family can help keep your library

    Invite people by email to edit your library. They sign in with their own account to add, move and lend books. Free lets you and 2 others edit; Plus, any number.

    Inviting a family member to help keep the library 1 2
    1. Invited by email
    2. Free: you and 2 others

  8. Ideas for what to read next

    Beside your books, You might like suggests books from Open Library. The ideas come from the authors and topics you already own.

  9. Shelf Help is open to everyone

    Anyone can create a free account, with a code sent by email or with Google. Free holds up to 200 books, and shelf photos are on every plan.