Your bookshelf can help your child's whole school.
The books from older siblings, past school years and your own shelf are often exactly what's on this year's reading lists. List them for your child, save on every new list, and help other families do the same.
Don't have a child at the school? Give your books to a family. →What parents and guardians can do
Stay as involved as you like, from listing a few books to helping launch it at your school.
Listing your family's books
Link to your child
Sign up with your email, then enter the code from your child's Baton Card. Students under 18 never give us their name or email.
Scan your shelf
Scan the barcode on each book. Title and cover fill in, and we flag books on a reading list at your child's school.
Book Drop at school
When another student requests a book, your child brings it to school and drops it at the library desk with the pickup code. Parents and guardians don't need to come in.
Join as a parent or guardian
Help your school get started
Tell us your child's school. When enough families and a librarian sign up, we launch there, and we'll email you first.
- $Save on every reading listGet assigned books free from other students at school instead of buying new copies each term.
- 📚Put your bookshelf to workBooks from older siblings and past years go to students who need them now.
- ✓Safe for your childNo names, no messaging, and every Book Drop happens at school.
- ♻Teaches givingKids build a reliability score and badges by keeping their word.
Sign up as a parent or guardian
We'll let you know when BookBaton
Community give-aways
Kids graduated? Your books can still help.
🎁 Give-away onlyYou don't need a student at the school to help. Graduated families, grandparents, retirees and neighbors can give the books on their shelves to a family who needs them. Parents and guardians make the Book Drop, not the school and never the students.
- 🧑🤝🧑Adults only. A parent or guardian picks up the book. Students never meet or message anyone.
- 📝Condition promise. Givers confirm every book has no writing, damage or anything inappropriate inside, and receivers can report a problem.
- ✅Verified adults. Everyone confirms their email and phone number before they can give or receive.
- 📍Public spots only. Book Drops happen at places like a public library or a police safe exchange zone. No home addresses.
- 🔒Private messaging. Arrange the Book Drop in the app, without sharing phone numbers or emails.
- 🤝Both confirm. Giver and receiver tap "Book Drop done" once the book changes hands, and both earn trust on their cards.
- 🚩Report a problem. Anyone can flag an issue, and we can pause accounts.
Become a community donor
Tell us where you are and what you might give. We'll let you know when community give-aways open in your area.
Part of a PTO or parent group?
One parent group can bring BookBaton
Parent & guardian questions
My kids have graduated. Can I still give books?
Yes. Sign up as a community donor. You'll list the books you want to give, and when a family needs one, a parent or guardian meets you at a public spot like the library to pick it up.
How do family-to-family give-aways work?
Only adults are involved. You arrange a time in the app without sharing your phone number or email, meet at a public spot, hand over the book, and both of you confirm it in the app.
Do we ever get books back?
No. Every book on BookBaton
Do I need my own account?
You'll sign in with your own email and link to your child using the code on their Baton Card. Books you list show up under your child, so they count toward your child's trust card. See how sign-up works.
My child is in middle school. Can they join?
Yes. At middle schools, the librarian runs BookBaton
Will other families see my name?
No. Other students and parents only see a trust card with a reliability score, number of books given and badges. Only the school librarian can see who is who.
Can I list books my child isn't using right now?
Yes. Older siblings' books, last year's reading list, or your own copies of the classics are all welcome. If a book is on any teacher's reading list at the school, a student will probably need it.
Who drops the book off at school?
Your child does. You help at home by putting the book and its pickup code in their backpack, and your child drops it at the library desk. You'll both get the reminders, so nothing gets forgotten.
Can I approve each give-away?
Yes. You can choose to approve every request before your child's book is given away, or let your child decide.
Can we donate books to the school?
Yes. Every book is already a give-away. You can also give books to your school's give-away shelf when your child moves up or graduates. Your child brings them in to the library desk.
Does it cost anything?
No. BookBaton