There is more than one way to add books to your personal library. Whether you have one book, a whole shelf, a list of ISBNs, or a Goodreads export, Bibliobay offers a way to get started without typing every book from scratch. This guide compares five methods so you can choose the right one for your collection.
Best for adding one or two books. Open your Bibliobay library, select Add book → Add by ISBN, then scan the barcode with your phone using Scan ISBN. You can also enter the ISBN manually and search for the book. Check the available book details before adding it to your collection.
Best for cataloging a stack of physical books. On your phone, open your library and choose Import → Scan multiple books. Scan barcodes one after another. Bibliobay collects recognized books in a temporary list with available covers, titles and authors. When you are ready, tap Add X books to library to start the group import.
A progress indicator shows the import. The final summary reports books added, books already in your library, and ISBNs not found. The current version does not let you remove an individual book from the temporary list before importing. Camera-based bulk scanning is a mobile workflow.
Best if you already have ISBNs in a spreadsheet or document. Choose Import → Paste ISBN list and paste up to 2,000 ISBN-10 or ISBN-13 numbers, one per line. Bibliobay validates the entries and provides a Look up books action. This is particularly convenient on desktop.
Best if your books are already cataloged in Goodreads. Export your Goodreads library as a CSV file, then choose Import → Import from Goodreads in Bibliobay. Review the imported records afterward because book data and field mappings can vary.
Best for older books, unusual editions, damaged barcodes, or titles without a matching ISBN record. Select Add book → Add manually and enter the book details yourself. An ISBN is not required.
One new book? Scan or type its ISBN. A shelf of books? Use mobile multi-book scanning. A spreadsheet of ISBNs? Paste the ISBN list. A Goodreads catalog? Import its CSV file. A book without an ISBN? Add it manually. You can combine all five methods within the same personal library.
Once your books are added, you can browse your library, search by title or ISBN, filter books, and use the available organization features. Bibliobay works in a web browser on desktop and mobile.
Explore the Bibliobay Book Scanner App page to learn about scanning features, or visit the Book Catalog App page for a broader look at organizing your collection.
Yes. Bibliobay supports ISBN barcode scanning with your phone camera through the web interface.
Yes. You can scan multiple books on mobile, paste up to 2,000 ISBNs, or import a Goodreads CSV file.
The bulk import summary reports ISBNs not found. You can try entering the ISBN manually or add the book details yourself.
Not in the current version. Individual removal from that list before group import is not available.
No. Use Add book → Add manually to enter a book without an ISBN.
A personal library scanner is useful, but it is not the only way to build a digital catalog. Bibliobay lets you scan one book, scan many books, paste an ISBN list, import Goodreads CSV, or enter a book manually. Choose the method that matches your collection and start building a searchable library.
Visit the Book Scanner App landing page or Book Catalog App landing page to explore Bibliobay. Detailed step-by-step guides for each import method will be linked from this article as they are published.