Community Guidelines
Literashare only works because neighbors treat each other well. These guidelines cover the tone we’re going for, what to do if something feels off, and — most importantly — how to meet up safely.
It’s a gift, not a transaction
Every book on Literashare is given, not lent — when a request is accepted, it’s a gift, free and clear, with no expectation of return. List a book when you’re genuinely happy to see it go to a good home, and request a book only if you actually want it.
Be a good neighbor in messages
- Be kind and be honest, especially if the answer is no.
- Respond in a reasonable time if you can — even a quick “not this one” is better than silence.
- Don’t keep messaging someone who’s stopped responding.
Meeting up safely
Book handoffs happen in person, between neighbors who are otherwise strangers. A little caution goes a long way:
- Meet in a public place — a cafe, a library branch, or a park — rather than a private home.
- Tell someone where you’re going, or bring a friend along.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels off before or during a meetup, it’s okay to reschedule, ask for a different location, or cancel entirely.
In an emergency, call 911 first.
In-app reports are reviewed by moderators as part of our normal process — they are not monitored in real time. For anything urgent or unsafe happening right now, contact 911 or local authorities before reporting it in the app.
What’s not okay
- Harassment, threats, hate speech, or discrimination toward another member.
- Spam, or running a resale or commercial operation through Literashare.
- Listing, requesting, or exchanging illegal items or content.
- Filing a false report to harass or retaliate against someone.
- Creating a new account to get around a suspension or ban.
Reporting something
You can report a message, listing, or user directly in the app. Reports go to a moderator queue for review, and can lead to a warning, a temporary suspension, or a permanent ban, depending on what happened. Reports aren’t monitored in real time — see the meetup-safety note above for what to do in an emergency.
Blocking someone
You can block any other member at any time, for any reason, no explanation needed. Blocking is mutual — it hides you from each other in search and messaging. Blocking isn’t the same as reporting: if someone violated these guidelines, report them too so moderators can look into it.
Enforcement
Violating these guidelines can lead to a warning, a temporary suspension, or a permanent ban, depending on severity and history. See our Terms of Service for the full enforcement policy.