BookStoop. Ballard Open the map

Ballard, Seattle

The living catalog of your neighborhood's little free libraries.

Find a book before you walk over — and keep the shelves fresh for everyone with a single photo.

See how it works Open the map

One photo. That's the whole job.

BookStoop is an independent neighborhood project — by neighbors, for neighbors. When someone photographs a shelf, a helper reads the book titles and updates the public catalog — so the next person knows what's waiting before they arrive.

How it works

Three steps, about ten seconds

Scan the code

Point your phone camera at the QR code posted by the library. It opens in your browser — nothing to install.

Take a Shelfie

Snap a picture of the shelf. No account, no typing, no forms to fill. Just the photo.

Neighbors find books

The titles appear on the public map so anyone nearby can discover what's on your shelf.

Every photo is an act of generosity.

You're not taking a photo for a machine. You're helping someone else find a book that was waiting for them.

Who keeps it alive

Built around contributors, not users

Steward

You care for a library

You built it and you're proud of it. A quick photo now and then helps people discover it.

Neighbor

You walk by

You may never own a library, but you keep the shelves fresh so books keep moving.

Explorer

You're hunting a book

You search the catalog to find a title nearby — and sometimes update a shelf while you're there.

Good questions

Questions & answers

Is this official? Are you part of Little Free Library®?
No. BookStoop is an independent project run by a neighbor. We love and celebrate little free libraries, but we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Little Free Library®, the nonprofit organization. This is simply a community catalog for our neighborhood.
Do I need to download an app or create an account?
No. Everything happens in your phone's browser. Scan the code, take a photo, and you're done. No app, no login, no password.
What happens to the photos I take?
The photo is used only to read the book titles on the shelf and update the public catalog. That's it. We ask you to stand near the library so photos reflect the real shelf.
Is my privacy protected?
Yes. We don't need your identity to accept a photo. If you're a library steward, you can optionally add your name so the confirmation email feels personal — but it's never required.
Does it cost anything?
No. BookStoop is free to use. There's nothing to buy and nothing to sign up for.
How does the automatic reading work?
BookStoop uses AI to read the titles from your photo and keep each shelf's list current. The technology exists to remove work from you — so your only job is the photo.
Where does the map of libraries come from?
The starting locations come from OpenStreetMap, an open, community-maintained map of the world. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, used under the ODbL license.
My library moved, changed, or no longer exists. Can I fix it?
Yes — leave a note in the box below, or reach out through the site, and we'll take care of it. Keeping the catalog honest matters to us.
Who is behind BookStoop?
A neighbor named Arturo, together with the community. It's a small, human project — and it grows every time someone takes a photo.

We'd love to hear from you

Share a story or a note

A memory about your library, an idea, a question, or something to fix — anything you'd like to tell us.

This is a neighborly project. We read every note. Please don't include sensitive personal information.

By sending, you give BookStoop your full permission to share what you submit — words and photos — for promotional use on this site and on social media. First names only, always.

Thank you ❤️

Your note is on its way. It means a lot to have you as part of the neighborhood.