Cozyshelf Privacy Policy
Cozyshelf is an app for keeping a personal bookshelf. This policy explains what data is processed, where it is stored, and what rights you have.
In short: Cozyshelf has no user accounts and does not upload your library to the cloud. Your books, notes, and photos stay on your device.
1. Who is responsible for your data
The app is developed by an individual — Olena Kalinina (independent developer). Privacy enquiries: kalinina.olena@gmail.com.
2. Data stored on your device
You create this data yourself, and it is written only to the app's local database:
- book details: title, authors, publisher, genres, ISBN, year, rating, reading status;
- your personal notes about books;
- cover images and other pictures taken with the camera or picked from your photo library;
- records of people you lent a book to (the name you typed in yourself);
- app settings — theme, language, reminders.
The developer has no access to this data. It is not sent to any server and is not synced between devices.
3. Data that leaves your device
The only time the app contacts the network is when looking up book metadata.
- What is sent: text recognised from the cover (title and author, up to 120 characters), or the ISBN read from a barcode.
- What is NOT sent: the photographs themselves, your notes, ratings, book list, people's names, or any account or device identifiers beyond what is technically required.
- Where to: Cloud Functions on Google Firebase (region europe-west3, EU). The request is processed by the Google Gemini API to identify the edition, and a list of candidate matches is returned.
Text recognition on the photo runs on the device itself using operating-system capabilities. Images are never uploaded.
4. Abuse protection (App Check)
To stop third-party software from calling the lookup function, the app uses Firebase App Check. It sends a technical integrity token issued by Apple App Attest or Google Play Integrity. The token attests that the app is genuine and contains no personal data about you.
5. Device permissions
- Camera — to photograph a cover or scan a barcode. Photos are stored locally.
- Photo library — to pick an existing cover image. The app reads only the photo you select.
- Notifications and exact alarms — to show local reading reminders. Reminders are generated on the device; no push messages are sent from any server.
You can revoke any of these permissions in your system settings; the related features simply become unavailable.
6. Analytics and advertising
Cozyshelf contains no ad networks, no behavioural analytics, and no trackers, and it does not build an advertising profile. Data is not sold or shared with third parties for marketing.
7. Backups and export
The app lets you create a backup file of your library. You decide where to keep it. If you place that file in iCloud or Google Drive, or send it to someone, that service's terms apply to it — not this policy.
8. Retention and deletion
Local data is kept until you delete it in the app or uninstall the app, at which point the database and images are removed with it. Lookup requests to Cloud Functions are not tied to your identity; Google service logs are retained for a limited period under Google's own policies.
9. Children
The app is not directed at children under 13 and does not knowingly collect their data.
10. Your rights
Because the data is local, you have direct access to it: you can view, edit, export, or delete any record inside the app. If you are in the EEA or the UK, you also have GDPR rights — access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. Contact kalinina.olena@gmail.com.
11. Third-party services
- Google Firebase (Cloud Functions, App Check) — Firebase privacy information
- Google Gemini API — processes the book lookup query
12. Changes to this policy
If this policy is updated, the new version will appear on this page with a revised date. Material changes will also be announced in the app.
13. Contact
Olena Kalinina, independent developer — kalinina.olena@gmail.com