Privacy Policy
Last updated: July 13, 2026
Introduction
This privacy policy explains our approach regarding information relating to users of our Bookscout application. Bookscout is a comprehensive personal library management application for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS that helps you organize your books, collect quotes, and interact with your library using AI-powered features.
Precellence Software is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal data.
1. Data Collection and Storage
Bookscout is designed with respect for your privacy:
- Local Storage: All your books, quotes, reading progress, ratings, libraries, and library data are stored locally on your device
- CloudKit Sync: If you enable iCloud synchronization, your data is encrypted and stored securely in your personal iCloud account using CloudKit. We do not have access to this data
- No Personal Data Collection: We do not collect, track, or share any personal information with third parties
- No Cookies: The application does not use any cookies or tracking technologies
- No Analytics: We do not use any analytics or tracking services
2. Permissions and Data Access
Bookscout may request the following permissions to provide its features:
- Camera: Used to scan ISBN barcodes from books to automatically import book details, covers, and metadata. Images are processed locally on your device and are not stored or transmitted to external servers
- Photo Library: Used to select images for book covers or quotes. You can choose which photos to share with the app
- Network Access: Used only when you choose to use AI features with external providers (Gemini, OpenAI, or Mistral). Network access is not required if you use Ollama locally or if you disable AI features
3. AI and RAG Features
Bookscout includes AI-powered features with RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) technology:
- AI Provider Selection: You can choose from multiple AI providers: Google Gemini, OpenAI, Mistral, Anthropic, or Ollama (local). The choice is entirely yours
- Local Processing (Ollama): By default, Bookscout only accepts a local Ollama server (running on the same device). In this mode, all AI processing happens on your device and no data leaves it, ensuring complete privacy
- Remote Ollama Server (Advanced, Opt-In): You may explicitly enable an advanced setting to connect to a remote or network Ollama server instead of a local one. If you do, your library content (used for vectorization and chat context) is sent to that remote server, exactly as with a cloud AI provider. This is disabled by default and requires an explicit, separate opt-in with an on-screen warning
- External AI Services: When you use Gemini, OpenAI, Mistral, or Anthropic, your queries and relevant context from your library (books and quotes) are sent to the chosen provider. Please refer to their respective privacy policies:
- Google Gemini: Google Privacy Policy
- OpenAI: OpenAI Privacy Policy
- Mistral: Mistral Privacy Policy
- Anthropic: Anthropic Privacy Policy
- RAG Technology: The RAG system searches through your personal library (books and quotes) to provide contextually relevant answers. Only the relevant context from your library is sent to the AI provider, not your entire library
- Data Transmission: When using external AI services, only your query and relevant context are transmitted. Your full library data remains on your device
- Quote Extraction: You can save AI-generated responses as quotes in your collection. These quotes are stored locally on your device
4. Third-Party Services
Bookscout uses the following services:
- Apple iCloud (CloudKit): For data synchronization across your Apple devices (optional). All data is encrypted and stored in your personal iCloud account. We do not have access to your iCloud data
- Book Metadata Services: When you scan an ISBN, the app may query book metadata services to retrieve book information (title, author, cover, etc.). This information is fetched on-demand and stored locally
- AI Providers (Optional): Google Gemini, OpenAI, Mistral, and Anthropic are third-party services that you may choose to use. Their use is entirely optional, and you can use Ollama locally instead. When you use these services, their privacy policies apply
5. Data Usage
Your data is used solely for:
- Displaying and organizing your personal library
- Synchronizing across your Apple devices (if iCloud sync is enabled)
- Providing AI assistant functionality with RAG (when enabled and configured)
- Retrieving book metadata when scanning ISBN codes
- Storing and organizing your quotes and reading notes
6. Data Security
We take data security seriously:
- All data stored locally is protected by iOS, iPadOS, and macOS security features
- Data synced via CloudKit is encrypted in transit and at rest
- We do not transmit your data to any external servers except:
- Apple's iCloud service (if enabled, for synchronization)
- Book metadata services (for ISBN lookups only)
- AI providers you choose to use (only when you actively use AI features)
- No third-party analytics or tracking services are used
- If you use Ollama locally, all AI processing remains on your device with no external data transmission
7. Children's Privacy
Bookscout is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
8. Updates
Application updates are managed exclusively through the App Store (iOS, iPadOS, and macOS), ensuring the security and integrity of the update process.
9. Contact
If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy, you can contact us at:
10. Changes to Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to modify this privacy policy at any time. Any changes will be published in the application and/or on our website. The last updated date at the top of this policy will also be modified. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.