Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 13, 2026
Story Swap (“the App,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our users, including students, teachers, and librarians/administrators.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have regarding your information.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following types of information when you use Story Swap:
- Account Information: Name, school name, role (Student, Teacher, Librarian/Admin), email address, and login credentials.
- Identity Verification Data: School ID images or details submitted for verification purposes.
- Book Listing Data: Book titles, cover images, descriptions, condition, and availability submitted by users.
- Usage Data: Borrowing and lending history, requests, and in-app activity related to book exchanges.
- Device and Technical Data: Information such as device type, operating system, and app version, collected automatically for app functionality and troubleshooting.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Create and manage your user account and role-based access.
- Facilitate book borrowing, lending, and exchange between users within your school.
- Verify user identity through AI-powered scanning where required by your school.
- Catalog and display book listings, including cover images, using AI-powered scanning tools.
- Communicate with you about your account, listings, or platform updates.
- Maintain the security, integrity, and proper functioning of the App.
- Improve and develop new features for the App.
3. AI-Powered Features and OpenAI
Story Swap uses the OpenAI API to power AI tools that process book cover images for cataloging and assist with identity verification.
Images or text submitted for these purposes are transmitted to OpenAI for processing in accordance with OpenAI’s own data usage and privacy policies. Extracted information (such as book title, author, or ID details) may be temporarily or permanently stored as part of your account or listing data, depending on the feature.
4. In-App Chat
Story Swap includes an in-app chat feature so users can communicate about book listings, requests, and exchanges. Chat messages are stored on our backend for as long as needed to provide the feature and to support reporting and safety review.
Users can report inappropriate messages. Reported chat content is reviewed manually by school librarians/administrators for moderation purposes.
Please avoid sharing sensitive personal information in chat, as messages may be visible to the other party and, if reported, to school administrators.
5. Push Notifications
The App sends push notifications for events such as new chat messages, book requests, and borrowing updates. This requires a device push token, which we store to deliver notifications. You can disable notifications at any time through your device settings.
6. Data Storage and Security
User data is stored using Supabase for authentication and our backend database (built with Node.js, Express, and Drizzle ORM). We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure.
While we strive to protect your data, no method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Information Sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We may share information in the following circumstances:
- With your school’s librarians/administrators, as necessary for account verification, moderation, and management of the book-sharing program.
- With other users, to the extent necessary to facilitate a borrowing or lending transaction (e.g., your name and contact details may be visible to a user you are exchanging a book with).
- With service providers (such as Supabase and OpenAI) who help us operate the App and power AI features, under appropriate confidentiality and data processing terms.
- Where required by law, school policy, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of Story Swap, our users, or others.
8. Data Retention
We retain your account and activity information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the App’s services. If you or your school requests account deletion, we will delete or anonymize your personal information, except where retention is required for legal, safety, or record-keeping purposes.
9. Children’s Privacy
Story Swap is designed for use within a school community and may be used by students under the age of 18. We rely on schools to obtain any necessary parental or guardian consent in accordance with applicable laws and school policies.
We encourage parents and guardians to be aware of their child’s use of the App and to contact the school administrator with any concerns.
10. Your Rights and Choices
You may access, update, or correct your account information through the App, where available. You can delete your own account and associated personal data directly from within the App at any time.
You may decline to provide certain information, though this may limit your ability to use certain features (such as borrowing or identity-verified listings).
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will post the updated policy within the App, and continued use of the App after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
12. Google Play Data Safety
Story Swap is distributed via the Google Play Store and complies with Google Play’s Data Safety requirements. The categories of data collected and shared, as described in this Privacy Policy (account information, identity verification data, book listing data, chat messages, push notification tokens, and usage data), are disclosed in the App’s Data Safety section on its Play Store listing.
The App requests device permissions (such as camera access for book cover and ID scanning, and notification permissions) only as needed for the features described above.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact the Story Swap support team or your school administrator through the contact details provided within the App.
Terms and Conditions
Last updated: June 13, 2026
Welcome to Story Swap (“the App,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). Story Swap is a school-community book sharing platform that connects students, teachers, and librarians/administrators to borrow, lend, and exchange books within their school community.
By accessing or using Story Swap, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
1. Eligibility and Accounts
Story Swap is intended for use by students, teachers, and staff of participating schools. Users under the age of 18 should use the App with the awareness and consent of a parent, guardian, or school authority, as applicable under school policy.
You must provide accurate information when creating an account, including for identity verification purposes. Each user is assigned a role (Student, Teacher, or Librarian/Admin), which determines the features and permissions available to that account.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
2. Identity Verification and Book Scanning
The App uses AI-powered tools to scan book covers for cataloging purposes and to verify user identity (e.g., school ID verification) where required by your school.
By using these features, you consent to the capture and processing of images you submit for these purposes. You agree to submit only genuine, accurate images and information, and not to attempt to impersonate another individual or misrepresent a book’s details.
3. Borrowing, Lending, and Book Listings
Users may list books they own or that belong to the school library for borrowing by other users, subject to school rules. Users who borrow books are responsible for returning them in the condition received, within any timeframe set by the lender or school policy.
Story Swap is a facilitation platform only. We do not own, inspect, or guarantee the condition, availability, or accuracy of any book listed by users.
Disputes regarding lost, damaged, or unreturned books should be resolved between the relevant users, with escalation to school librarians/administrators as needed.
4. User Roles and Responsibilities
- Students: May browse, request, lend, and borrow books, and manage their own listings and borrowing history.
- Teachers: May additionally moderate classroom-related listings and assist students with the platform as guided by the school.
- Librarians/Admins: May manage the overall book catalog, approve or reject listings, verify user accounts, and oversee platform activity within their school.
All users agree to use the App respectfully and not to misuse administrative or moderation privileges where applicable.
5. Acceptable Use
You agree not to:
- Use the App for any unlawful purpose or in violation of your school’s code of conduct.
- Upload false, misleading, offensive, or inappropriate content, including book listings, images, or messages.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users’ accounts, data, or to the App’s backend systems.
- Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) to access or interact with the App without our prior written permission.
- Harass, bully, or harm other users in any way through the platform.
6. Intellectual Property
The Story Swap name, logo, design, source code, and underlying technology are the property of their respective owners/developers.
Book content, titles, and cover images remain the property of their respective copyright holders and are used solely for cataloging and identification purposes within the App.
Users retain ownership of any content (such as profile information or listing descriptions) they submit, but grant Story Swap a license to display and process this content as necessary to operate the App.
7. Account Suspension and Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, school policies, or that are used in a manner harmful to other users or the platform.
School librarians/admins may have the ability to suspend or remove student/teacher accounts within their school’s instance of the App.
Users may request deletion of their account and associated data by contacting their school administrator or the App support contact.
8. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
Story Swap is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We do not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free, or secure access to the App at all times.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Story Swap, its developers, and affiliated schools shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use of, or inability to use, the App, including loss of, or damage to, books exchanged through the platform.
9. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Continued use of the App after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. We encourage users to review this page periodically.
10. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of India, without regard to conflict of law principles, and subject to the policies of the participating school.
11. In-App Chat and Communication
Story Swap includes an in-app chat feature that allows users to communicate with each other regarding book listings, borrowing requests, and exchanges.
You agree to use chat respectfully and not to send harassing, abusive, offensive, or inappropriate messages, or to share personal contact information in a manner that violates school policy.
Users can report inappropriate chat messages or behavior; reported content is reviewed manually by school librarians/administrators. We reserve the right to suspend or restrict chat access for users who violate these guidelines.
12. Push Notifications
The App may send push notifications to your device, including alerts for new chat messages, book requests, borrowing updates, and other account-related activity. You can manage notification preferences through your device settings.
13. Third-Party Services
Story Swap uses the OpenAI API to power certain AI features, including book cover scanning, cataloging, and identity verification assistance. When you use these features, relevant images or text may be transmitted to OpenAI for processing in accordance with OpenAI’s own terms and privacy practices. By using these features, you acknowledge this data transfer.
14. Google Play Terms
If you obtained the App from the Google Play Store, your use of the App is also subject to Google Play’s Terms of Service. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and Google Play’s terms regarding the App’s use, Google Play’s terms shall govern solely with respect to that conflict.
15. Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact the Story Swap support team or your school administrator through the contact details provided within the App.