For schools & librarians

Bring BookBaton.com to your school.

Help families spend less on assigned books and keep last year's copies in circulation. Students do the work on their phones. Your library is the safe place where books change hands.

Become a founding school See pricing See the library desk demo

FreeYour first yearTry it for a full year before any budget request.

~5 minA day at the deskOne scan at drop-off and one at pickup.

🔒Private by designStudents use card codes. We never collect their names.

📷No new equipmentAny browser and your existing barcode scanner.

See it in action at the library

What a librarian does, from printing cards to handing a book over.

See all four animations →

For librarians & schools

Why schools sign up

We're looking for a few founding partner schools. Librarians and teachers help shape how it works, and your first year is free.

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Safe by designGive-aways stay inside your school community and Book Drops happen at the library or front office, not with strangers.
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First year freeFounding schools then pay $499 a year, guaranteed for 5 years. Families spend less on assigned books.
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Built around your reading listsShare your class and summer reading lists, and students see who already has each book.
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Books keep circulatingLast year's copies go to this year's readers instead of sitting on a shelf at home.

Become a founding school

Leave your details and we'll reach out to set up a short call. Your first year is free.

Thank you! We'll be in touch soon to talk about bringing BookBaton.com to your school.

Middle schools: run by the librarian

Younger students never use the app and never share any information. The library runs BookBaton.com at the desk.

📚Your school inventoryFamilies and the PTO donate books. You check each copy against the condition promise, scan it in, and see every book on your shelf in one place.

📝Books we needAdd your teachers' requests, like 25 copies of The Giver for English 7. Books you hand out count toward each request automatically.

🔒No student accountsStudents just pick up their book at the library. No names, no logins and no information about any student is ever collected.

Try the middle school library desk

School pricing

Students and families always use BookBaton.com free. Schools try it free for a full year, then choose a plan.

Your first year is free.No contract, no credit card. Use everything, with every student.

Then $699 a year.Guaranteed for 5 years when you sign a 5-year agreement.

Founding school offer

$499 / year

Sign your 5-year agreement within the first 60 days of your free year and your price is $499 a year, guaranteed for 5 years.

That's about the cost of 33 books a year.

Prefer to go year to year? You can, at $699 a year. Without an agreement, the price may change when you renew.

Your PTO, a local business or a library foundation can sponsor your school's yearly fee. Become a founding school to start your free year.

See what librarians see

An interactive preview of the library desk: the hold shelf, the scan desk, reading-list coverage and reports.

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The library deskTry the scan desk and see a typical day.

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Your school's own pageYour school colors and the books on hand. Families land here from Find your school.

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How the whole process worksFive steps, who does what, and the rules that keep it fair.

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School & librarian questions

Can our PTO or parent group help?

Yes. Parent groups are often the fastest way to get started. Parents can list their family's books, help spread the word, and support the library desk. See how parents can help.

What does it cost?

Your school's first year is free, with no contract or credit card. After that it's $699 a year, guaranteed for 5 years with a 5-year agreement. Founding schools that sign their agreement within the first 60 days of the free year pay $499 a year, guaranteed for 5 years. Schools can also go year to year at $699, but without an agreement the price may change at renewal. Students and families always use it free. See school pricing.

How much staff time does it take?

Students do the listing and requesting on their phones. At the library desk, each Book Drop is one scan at drop-off and one at pickup. Most schools spend about 5 minutes a day. See the library desk.

Do we need special equipment?

No. The library desk runs in any web browser, and works with the USB barcode scanner you may already use for your catalog. Codes can also be typed.

How is student privacy protected?

Students under 18 sign in with a Baton Card code from their librarian, so BookBaton.com never collects their name, email or phone number. Only the school knows which student has which code. Students see each other only as a trust card, there is no student-to-student messaging, and the library desk works with codes, not names.

How do Baton Cards work?

When your school joins, you print a Baton Card for each student who wants one. Each card has a code like SBS-4827-KM and a barcode. You keep the list of which student has which code. That list stays with your school, not with us. Students activate the card with a PIN, and you can reset a PIN or replace a lost card at the desk.

What do teachers do?

Teachers sign in and add the books they've assigned. Each one gets a class code to share with the class. Students who enter it get teacher-verified requests that go to the front of the line, so the library knows requests are real. At middle schools, a teacher's book goes straight onto the library's Books we need list. Try the teacher view.

Can middle schools join?

Yes. At middle schools the librarian runs everything: families send books in with their child, you add them to your school inventory, keep a list of the books your teachers need, and hand books out at the desk. Students never use the app, and no student information is collected. How it works for middle schools.

Can we start small?

Yes. Many schools start with one grade or one English class, then expand once it's running smoothly.

What does a founding school do?

Founding schools try BookBaton.com first and help shape it. We'll set up a short call, add your reading lists, and support your library staff directly.