Gokhan's Blog

MiniShelf support#

What is MiniShelf?#

MiniShelf helps you use the children's books your family already owns. Add your shelf once, then find a book by topic, child or moment, rotate a basket each week, and share a wishlist with family.

Adding books#

  • Photograph a shelf: the photo goes to Google's AI to read the spines. MiniShelf does not keep the photo. You confirm every book; nothing is added automatically. After a scan, "Scan more" takes the next row.
  • Scan a barcode on the back of a book.
  • Search or add by hand: type the title and author. Works offline too.
  • Import from Goodreads: export your Goodreads library, then choose the file in Add or in Settings > Your data. The file stays on your phone.

Finding a book to read#

Let's read is the first tab. Choose who is reading, then tap "Suggest a book": you get books at home that fit your child's age, each with a reason. Tired of a book? Tap "Rest this book" and it stays out of suggestions until you bring it back. "Just read" logs a read in one tap and is optional. No streaks, no goals.

Library books: choose "From the library" when you add them, with a due date. MiniShelf can remind you 3 days before, and the Library books screen shows what to return.

In "Kid's Selection" your child sees big covers and points at one. To leave it, hold the "Grown-ups: hold to exit" button for 3 seconds.

Sharing the shelf#

  • Another grown-up (a partner, a grandparent): Family > Grown-ups > invite. They open the link on their phone and see and change the same shelf. A link works once, for 7 days.
  • The wishlist page for family and friends: anyone with the link sees your wishlist and can tap "I'll get this". You can make a new link or turn it off at any time.

AI summaries#

A book's page can show "What it's about" and "Its message". AI writes them from the book's details, and they carry an "AI" tag. If one looks wrong, tap "Is this right?". A summary that several families flag is rewritten. You can turn summaries off in Settings.

Privacy and deleting your data#

MiniShelf works offline and never needs an account. Your data is used only to run the app: never sold, never used for ads. Export your shelf (CSV or JSON) or delete all your data in Settings, or without the app at https://www.gokhand.com/minishelf/delete-account/. Full details: https://www.gokhand.com/minishelf/privacypolicy/.

MiniShelf Plus#

Plus is optional; adding books, Let's read, the basket and the wishlist stay free. If you bought Plus and it does not show, go to Settings > MiniShelf Plus > Restore purchases, signed in with the same account. Cancel in your Apple or Google account settings.

Contact us#

Email info@gokhand.com. We read every message. For a bug, add the app version (Settings > About) and what you were doing.

MiniShelf is made by Kazim Gokhan Dogramaci.