Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 8, 2026  |  Last Updated: August 8, 2026

Nearest Library ("we", "our", or "us") operates the Nearest Library mobile application (the "App"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our App.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: When you register as a library admin, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and library details (name, address, seat configuration).
• Student Information: Library admins add student data including name and phone number for seat booking and management purposes.
• Payment Records: We store payment amounts and dates for library membership tracking. We do NOT process or store credit card numbers or bank details.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: Device type, operating system version, and unique device identifiers for push notification delivery.
• Usage Data: App interaction data, feature usage patterns, and error logs for improving app stability.
• Camera Data: Camera access is used solely for QR code scanning (attendance tracking). We do NOT capture, store, or transmit photos or videos.
• Location Data: Location is accessed only during library registration to auto-detect address. Location is NOT tracked continuously or in the background.

2. How We Use Your Information

• To create and manage your library admin account
• To enable student seat booking and membership management
• To facilitate QR-based attendance check-in and check-out
• To send push notifications about booking confirmations, membership expiry, and important updates
• To display dashboard analytics (attendance, revenue, booking statistics)
• To improve app performance and fix bugs

3. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do NOT sell your personal data to third parties. We may share information only in these cases:

• Service Providers: We use Clerk for authentication, MongoDB Atlas for data storage, Firebase Cloud Messaging for notifications, and Render for backend hosting. These services have their own privacy policies.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose data if required by law, regulation, or legal process.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale, user data may be transferred.

4. Data Storage and Security

• Data is stored on MongoDB Atlas servers with encryption at rest and in transit.
• Passwords are hashed using bcrypt and never stored in plain text.
• Authentication tokens are securely stored using device secure storage.
• API communications use HTTPS encryption.

5. Data Retention

We retain your data as long as your account is active. You can request deletion of your account and associated data by contacting us. Student data is retained as long as the library admin's account is active.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your account and data
• Opt out of push notifications through device settings

7. Children's Privacy

Our App is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

8. Third-Party Services

Our App uses the following third-party services:

• Clerk — Authentication (governed by Clerk's Privacy Policy)
• Firebase Cloud Messaging — Push notifications (governed by Google's Privacy Policy)
• MongoDB Atlas — Database storage
• Razorpay — Payment processing (when applicable)

9. Permissions Used

• Camera: Used exclusively for scanning QR codes for attendance tracking. No photos or videos are captured or stored.
• Notifications: Used to send booking confirmations, membership expiry alerts, and important library updates.
• Location: Used one-time during library registration to auto-detect the library's address. Not tracked in background.
• Internet: Required for communicating with our backend servers.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

• Email: support@nearestlibrary.com
• App: Settings → Help & Support