Book Collection App
Vitrine is a book collection app that helps collectors catalog editions, record condition and provenance, and track value. Built for people who collect books, not just read them. Covers first editions, rare books, and general home libraries. Free to start.
Why book collectors choose Vitrine
Goodreads is for reading, not collecting
Goodreads tracks what you have read and what you want to read. It has no fields for edition, condition, provenance, or value. It was not built for people who collect books as objects.
LibraryThing has no valuation tools
LibraryThing is good for cataloguing what you own, but it has no value tracking, condition grading, or provenance fields. It cannot help you document a collection for insurance.
First editions and signed copies need more than a title and author
A first edition needs edition number, print run, publisher, binding condition, dust jacket condition, and notes on any signatures or inscriptions. Generic apps don't have these fields.
Features for book collectors
Edition and publication fields
Record publisher, edition, print run, year, binding type, and format for every book.
Condition grading
Grade book and dust jacket condition separately. Use standard grades (Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor) or write your own condition notes.
Provenance and inscription fields
Document signatures, inscriptions, bookplates, previous owners, and purchase history.
Value tracking
Record purchase price and current estimated value. See your total collection value.
Custom shelves
Organise your collection by any grouping: genre, author, period, or your own categories.
Public collection page
Share your library with other collectors. Control which books are visible.
How to catalog your books with Vitrine
- 1
Create your account
Sign up free. Your collection is private until you choose to share it.
- 2
Add your books
Enter title, author, publisher, edition, and year. Add photos of the cover, spine, and any notable pages.
- 3
Record condition and provenance
Grade the book and dust jacket. Note any signatures, inscriptions, bookplates, or ownership history.
- 4
Track value
Enter what you paid and the current estimated value. Vitrine totals these up across your whole collection.
Vitrine vs other books tools
| Tool | Limitation |
|---|---|
| Vitrine | Web-based, free to start, full cataloguing with public collection page |
| Goodreads | A reading tracker and social network. No edition fields, no condition grading, no value tracking. |
| LibraryThing | Good for basic cataloguing but no value tracking, no condition grading, and no provenance fields. |
| Spreadsheets | Cannot store images inline, no structured condition fields, no value totals, difficult to share. |
Pricing for book collectors
Community — Free. Up to 100 items, public collection page, core cataloguing.
Hobbyist — £5/month. Up to 1,000 items, collection analytics, CSV import, wanted list, and 100 MB document storage.
Professional — £79/month. Up to 5,000 items, full dashboard, visitor analytics, event ticketing, compliance tools, staff accounts, and 1 GB document storage.
Frequently asked questions
How is Vitrine different from Goodreads?
Goodreads tracks what you read. Vitrine tracks what you own as a physical collection. Vitrine has fields for edition, condition, provenance, and value that Goodreads does not.
Can I catalog first editions and signed copies?
Yes. Vitrine has fields for edition number, publisher, binding condition, dust jacket condition, and provenance notes. You can document signatures, inscriptions, and any other details that affect a book's value.
Can I track books I have lent to friends?
Yes. Use the notes field to record who has borrowed a book and when. You can filter your collection to show only items currently on loan.
Can I catalog a large home library, not just rare books?
Yes. Vitrine works for collections of any size and type. You can mix rare books, general reading copies, and reference books in the same collection, and use shelves to organise them.
Can I import my LibraryThing or Goodreads library?
Both LibraryThing and Goodreads support CSV export. On Professional plans you can import that file into Vitrine. Some fields will need mapping during the import step.
Start cataloguing your books
Free to start. No credit card required. Your collection stays private until you choose to share it.
Create your free account →