What's new

Recent updates and improvements to OpenBookCase.

19 June 2026

Update

New Tap any photo to open it full-size in a lightbox — page through a bookcase’s photos with the next/previous buttons, the arrow keys or a swipe.
Improved The Guide now explains how to install OpenBookCase as an app (home screen / desktop) — including the not-so-obvious steps on Android and iPhone — and how to enable location access on iPhone & iPad so the “Locate me” button works.

Fix

Fixed Opening times can be added and edited again: the editor’s “Opening times” section now has an Add opening time button, so you can set “24/7” or specific hours — including on brand-new entries. Removing an opening time sticks now, too.
Fixed The entry counter in the menu bar is accurate again (one entry had a broken coordinate that left it off the map) and now ticks up instantly when you add a bookcase, without needing a page reload.

Update

New The List page can now be sorted by “Added” to show the latest community additions first, each with the date it was added. (Bulk OpenStreetMap imports are left out of this view.)
New Apply for API access from your profile — developers can request an OAuth 2.0 key to build apps on the OpenBookCase data (reviewed by an admin, with a built-in back-and-forth).
New A new Public API (/api/v1): open read endpoints (map area, single entry, photos, wishlist) plus OAuth-secured write endpoints (add/edit/move/delete entries, upload photos, wishlist, watchlist, home location). A For developers page under Info documents it with examples.
New An admin area for reviewing, approving, denying and revoking API-access applications (admins only).

Update

New Install OpenBookCase as an app on your phone or computer (“Add to Home Screen”) — it opens in its own window and always shows live data.
New “Follow me” on the map: a new button live-tracks your location and keeps the map centred as you move. Tap again, or pan the map, to stop.
Fixed Location now works inside the installed app on iPhone, with a clear hint pointing you to Settings if location access is blocked.
Fixed The data export on the List page no longer fails on the full dataset — it is now streamed instead of built all at once.
New The export can now be downloaded compressed (.json.gz) — a much smaller file for the full dataset.
Improved Downloading the data export now shows the usage terms first (ODbL licence, OpenStreetMap attribution, no re-import into OSM) — the download starts once you agree.

Initial release

New First public release of OpenBookCase 2.0: search the map for public bookcases and give-boxes, view details and photos, manage your wishlist, rate locations, and add or reposition entries — with a multi-language interface and a light/dark theme.