About ArLib.me

It's simple and fun. Use your phone to add a library and earn 50 points:

1. You must be at the library. This is an IRL experience.
2. Snap a pic of the library and name it to place it on the map.

Scan the barcodes on books to catalog them.

1. Scan the barcode on the back of the book with your phone.
2. Best in daylight. ISBN 13 barcodes to start.

Over time the catalog can get stale. A 5 minute re-scan of the books will keep it up to date.

Earn points for discovering libraries and scanning books. Get on top of the leaderboards. Rewards in the future?

1. Never before scanned books earn 5 points.
2. Rescans of books in the catalog earn points based on freshness.
3. Point multipliers kick in after a streak of scans.

Looking for a good book but don't feel like trekking to a mini library? Need something for your book club or just curious about what others nearby are reading? Find a library on the map and browse its collection—quick and simple. Spotted a book but not sure if it's worth your time? Look it up later and decide.

You start earning points the moment you add a library or a book—no sign-up. Your points belong to an anonymous account with a random name like “Reader K7Q2M”. To keep them if you clear your browser or switch devices, tap Save with passkey: your phone or password manager creates a passkey, secured by Face ID, Touch ID or your device PIN, and you can sign in with it anywhere. You can also tap Create account before earning anything.

The site stores no email, name or password—only your random name, your points and the passkey's public key. Leaderboards show random names only. If rewards are introduced in the future, points will determine eligibility, and you will be able to link a wallet to your account then. Points earned with a wallet before accounts existed are kept and can be claimed by that wallet at that point. Your account has the details.

Quests are how Arlington's libraries stay on the map and their catalogs stay fresh. A few ideas:

• Hide a small reward in a few libraries for whoever catalogs them next.
• Walks with a purpose: a route that takes you and a friend on a healthy walk to the libraries whose books need refreshing.
• Turn points into Karlma tokens (yes, karma, but for Arlington) that get you discounts at local businesses.

What are your ideas? Email ArlingtonAndUkraine+arlib@gmail.com.

Every library and book you add becomes part of a growing, mapped network that anyone can explore. It's a community-driven way to make books more accessible while celebrating the stories in our neighborhoods.