Questions and answers

Does it need the internet?

No. Not to set up, not to use, not ever. The device makes its own Wi-Fi network and everything is stored on it.

How do I use it?

Plug it in, wait about a minute, and join the Wi-Fi network printed on the card in the box. The library opens on your phone by itself. There is nothing to install.

How many people can use it at once?

One serves about twenty phones at once on its built-in Wi-Fi. Signature and Vault include a separate router and serve forty or more across a whole house or compound.

How long does it run on a battery?

One draws about three watts, so a common 10,000 mAh power bank runs it through the night and a 20,000 mAh bank for about two days. Signature with its router draws about eight watts. Vault includes its own power station, good for about eight hours, which recharges from a wall outlet, a vehicle or a solar panel.

Is Wikipedia really all on there?

Yes: every article in English Wikipedia, with images, as of the library's sealed date. Vault adds Spanish, French, German and Chinese.

Do the maps work without GPS?

The maps are searchable by place name and browsable without any signal. If your phone has a GPS chip, which almost all do, it can show your position on the map without cell service.

What is the Library Assistant?

On Signature and Vault, an assistant that runs entirely on the device. Ask a question in plain words; it searches the library, answers only from passages it found, and shows you the source beside the answer. If the library has no answer, it says so rather than guessing.

Can I update the library?

Yes. Updated libraries are released periodically on a USB stick and apply without an internet connection.

Can I use my own Raspberry Pi?

Yes. The Library Card is the complete library on a pre-loaded 512 GB card for a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5, and the Library Download is the same library as a disk image you write yourself.

Is the content licensed?

Yes. Every source on the device is either in the public domain or licensed for distribution, and each is credited on the device and on the What's in the library page.

Where does it ship from, and how fast?

From Minnesota. In-stock One and Signature orders ship within two business days. Vault is built to order, currently about three weeks.

What if I don't like it?

Return it within 60 days for a full refund. Details on the warranty and returns page.