Bookshelf

by VitalSource Technologies
4.2 out of 5 stars4,040 customer ratings
Guidance Suggested
Price: App Free to Download
Sold by:Amazon.com Services, Inc
Languages Supported: Arabic, Chinese, Cornish, Czech, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Kazakh, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese

By placing your order, you agree to our Terms of Use

Latest updates

What's new in version 10.5.2
  • • Adds single and double page navigation to ePub books.
  • • Updated reader preferences interface that enables users to make smaller changes in text size.
  • • Accessibility fixes.
  • • Other miscellaneous bug fixes.

Product Details

Release Date: 2014
Date first listed on Amazon: February 6, 2014
Developed By: VitalSource Technologies
ASIN: B00I9KLWZA
Customer reviews:
4.2 out of 5 stars4,040 customer ratings

Product features

  • Online or offline access to your textbooks
  • Simple, user-friendly navigation offers learners the tools and flexibility to maximize the reading experience.
  • Search across content, figures, and the workbook with our intuitive global search
  • Edit, annotate, study, and review key concepts in the workbook.
  • Best-in-class accessibility.

Product description

With Bookshelf by VitalSource®, you can enjoy a digital-first, comprehensive study experience from the convenience of your Kindle Fire tablet. Access all of your VitalSource textbooks and study anytime, anywhere.

Bookshelf Features:
• Download books for 100% offline reading.
• Customize highlighters and add notes for a rich study experience.
• Create flashcards with text and images to learn concepts faster.
• Personalize font, font size, and background colors to make reading easier.
• Listen to your books and learn on the go with Read Aloud.
• Sync your current reading position and all your work across devices so you can easily pick up where you left off.

Requirements:
• VitalSource Bookshelf account
• Access to one or more VitalSource textbooks.
• A supported Kindle Fire, for a complete list please visit - https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005251253
• Fire OS 5.4.0.1+

User Data Privacy

Developer has indicated that this app does not collect or transfer user data to third parties.
To learn more, visit the developer’s privacy policy.

Technical details

Size: 240.6MB
Version: 10.5.2
Developed By: VitalSource Technologies ( Privacy Policy )
Application Permissions: ( Help me understand what permissions mean )
  • ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
  • ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
  • Access information about networks
  • Connect to paired bluetooth devices
  • BLUETOOTH_CONNECT
  • Required to be able to access the camera device
  • Change network connectivity state
  • FOREGROUND_SERVICE
  • FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK
  • Open network sockets
  • POST_NOTIFICATIONS
  • Read from external storage
  • Get notified that the operating system has finished booting
  • PowerManager WakeLocks to keep processor from sleeping or screen from dimming
  • Write to external storage
  • Allows an application to receive messages via Google Cloud Messaging
  • Receive message via Amazon Device
Minimum Operating System: Android 7.0
Approximate Download Time: More than 5 minutes

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4,040 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the mobile application user-friendly and helpful for studying. They appreciate its easy access to textbooks, reading features, and audio narration. However, some customers have reported compatibility issues and lag. There are mixed opinions on functionality, download speed, and highlight feature.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
User friendlyUseReadabilityFunctionalityDownload speedHighlight featureCompatibilityLag
244 customers mention "User friendly"171 positive73 negative

Customers find the mobile application user-friendly. They say it's easy to look up and copy information, add notes, and bookmark a page. The app is helpful for accessing textbooks 24/7, managing and reading eBooks from VitalSource. The layout is easy to read and navigate, and it's a great way to keep all reading materials together.

"Great app! I use it on my laptop and on my Amazon fire tablet for reading professional books...." Read more

"...this a four star instead of a 1 or 2 because using the app on my laptop is fantastic...." Read more

"...So in a sense the app is useless to me...." Read more

"...I use this for my online school's textbooks, and it is very convenient...." Read more

117 customers mention "Use"117 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the mobile application for its usefulness for school and on-the-go studying. They find it helpful for college students and a valuable source for accessing reference works. The audio narratives are also appreciated.

"...It has a lag on those devices too. Still it is an invaluable source for access to reference works. Colleen" Read more

"...gladly read your text books to you, as well as being super handy when going out and about and need to take your book with you...." Read more

"A few of my classes last year required Bookshelf. It was very useful since I could use it across many platforms...." Read more

"This app is excellent for a college students that use also utilize VitalSource Bookshelf...." Read more

84 customers mention "Readability"65 positive19 negative

Customers like the readability of the mobile application. They mention it can read their books to them, is perfect for reading textbooks when they don't want to bring their laptop with them, and allows readers to view the entire text including charts and photos. The app is handy because it allows readers to read it on a variety of devices.

"...It's free, and it will gladly read your text books to you, as well as being super handy when going out and about and need to take your book with you...." Read more

"...a story of adventure and political intrigue, it also explores questions of linguisitics, particularly the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis." Read more

"It is a little difficulty to use on the smaller devices. Reading, taking notes, seeing the graphs is all very good...." Read more

"EDIT*** I attempted to upgrade my app, but then was unable to read ANYTHING - apparently it is NO LONGER compatible with my Kindle. UNREAL...." Read more

173 customers mention "Functionality"119 positive54 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the mobile application's functionality. Some say it works well for online college reading and textbooks, with a few glitches. Others report issues like not all functions working correctly, not connecting across devices, and problems with the software stopping or not working with regular PDF readers.

"...The product is very well thought out. I appreciate intuitiveness in all things in life. Which bookshelf is quite known for...." Read more

"...So in a sense the app is useless to me. I am sure the app works for all intensive purposes, but I am not going to pay twice for the books that I..." Read more

"...No error message cause were given in each cases. The software simply stopped working and I had to restart the software...." Read more

"...I have no complaints there. Andriod - it worked on my phone but would randomly disconnect my account making it impossible for offline reading..." Read more

61 customers mention "Download speed"34 positive27 negative

Customers have differing views on the download speed. Some find it easy to download schoolbooks and read them offline without having to use their devices. Others report issues with downloading books correctly or not downloading at all.

"The installation of the software is relatively simple for both Android phone (LG G2, Motorola smart phones)...." Read more

"...However, after an update on my Kindle, I have been having issues downloading new books. Don't know if it's a Kindle issue or Bookshelf issue." Read more

"...app was downloaded onto my Kindle Fire, I was able to sign in, download my books, and then I was ready to go!..." Read more

"...DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS APP OR BUY EBOOKS FOR THIS APP IF YOU HAVE A KINDLE FIRE FIRST GENERATION!" Read more

54 customers mention "Highlight feature"32 positive22 negative

Customers have different views on the highlight feature. Some find it easy to highlight and take notes, with multiple color options and the ability to share. Others mention that the highlighting function is touchy or doesn't work properly.

"...Other than that, when the books are there, it is easy to highlight what I need, and use all the features." Read more

"...app works on my new Kindle I am disappointed to see the highlighting featured isn't working...." Read more

"...Reading, taking notes, seeing the graphs is all very good. I do recommend having it as a great way away from internet service." Read more

"...Can use it on all my devices. Great feature is the highlighter and the notes. I like how you can leave a page and pick up from where you left off." Read more

49 customers mention "Compatibility"5 positive44 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the app's compatibility. They find it incompatible with various devices, including Kindle Fire and tablets. Some reviewers mention that it's not meant for seamless use on all devices.

"...It appears that my kindle is not compatible. Though I am not sure why. Maybe someone can tell me what to look for?..." Read more

"...UNREAL. Thanks for NOTHING. Worthless app if it isn't going to work with everything. Especially things it USED to work with...." Read more

"...Bookshelf, but when I went to access the books there is a compatibility issue with Kindle, Bookshelf and my school...." Read more

"...Kindle Fire - not compatible. It wouldn't work at all and just tooup valuable memory...." Read more

43 customers mention "Lag"6 positive37 negative

Customers have issues with the mobile application's performance. They report that it takes a long time for the app to load, the pages aren't very responsive, and it constantly freezes up. Some customers also mention that the app is not efficient and takes forever to download.

"...It has a lag on those devices too. Still it is an invaluable source for access to reference works. Colleen" Read more

"...The performance is slow, and when changing the orientation of the screen, it process may take 10-20+ seconds. The text books converted to..." Read more

"There are glitches in that it takes a while for it to load and if you move too much it starts loading again (Super Annoying!)..." Read more

"...It was a bit sluggish on my old iPad 2, but it works much better on my iPad Air 2." Read more

More books, please.🥰
5 out of 5 stars
More books, please.🥰
I love this app because I can use it for school on the go.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • ditza meshulam
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great app!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great app! I use it on my laptop and on my Amazon fire tablet for reading professional books. It has many great features for whoever needs an app for academic purposes.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Colleen
    5.0 out of 5 stars REALLY GOOD AND RELIABLE
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I use this product predominantly for academic textbooks on my Kindle Fire HD10. The only criticism I can level is that it is not as fast as the built-in Kindle reader (still the best!). I have the app installed on my desktop computer as well as an old ipad2. It has a lag on those devices too. Still it is an invaluable source for access to reference works.

    Colleen
    3 people found this helpful
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  • southernsara
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great features for studying and customer support is responsive
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It seems some people don't realize this is a Kindle-only (not desktop!) app is specifically for VitalSource eTextbooks and not for all books on a Kindle. I chose VitalSource for my upcoming graduate studies because of the range and prices of eTextbooks that they offer and for the study aids such as read-aloud and flash cards. I previously used and liked this bookshelf in undergrad. I couldn't get the read-aloud feature on my Kindle Fire 8 to work recently, so I submitted a help ticket. They were very responsive and my issue was escalated several times and not ignored. I recently received an update message that the next app update (10.4) will include a fix for the read-aloud issue.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Donna C. Smtih
    4.0 out of 5 stars good for laptop, not for kindle
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I am giving this a four star instead of a 1 or 2 because using the app on my laptop is fantastic. I am still learning how to maneuver with it, but so far I am pleased. However, I wanted this app on my Kindle so that I can do my reading for class at break and lunch while I am at work. It appears that my kindle is not compatible. Though I am not sure why. Maybe someone can tell me what to look for? IT's an older version, sure...but I don't see why that should make a difference. Please Vital Source, fix this so that I and others can use the app to it's fullest potential.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Allan
    1.0 out of 5 stars Good & Bad aspects
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    EDIT*** I attempted to upgrade my app, but then was unable to read ANYTHING - apparently it is NO LONGER compatible with my Kindle. UNREAL. Thanks for NOTHING. Worthless app if it isn't going to work with everything. Especially things it USED to work with. Why have something for students to use if you can't make it accessible for all students!? As if students can afford to keep upgrading their devices.

    I use this for my online school's textbooks, and it is very convenient. There were a few occasions that the current class books I was reading simply vanished. I had to wait until I was home in order to fix it and get them to show up again. Nothing I could do, even online, was able to fix it without my laptop. It was a huge pain, and very disgusting to take it on my camping trip to read when it rained (as the weather report predicted, it did, which was why I brought them), and I was unable to read my current books anyway. No idea why they disappeared, but it was TRULY annoying and didn't make sense as my completed classes's books were still there. Only the two I NEEDED were missing. Other than that, when the books are there, it is easy to highlight what I need, and use all the features.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • ted
    5.0 out of 5 stars I
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    You can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. I own multiple tablets. ( which, I do not recommend, is a good place). Anyway, bookshelf is an app that will help ending the search for all other book related apps. The product is very well thought out. I appreciate intuitiveness in all things in life. Which bookshelf is quite known for. One could spend multiple lifetimes, pretty much finding anything one could wish to read. I began this stating the owning of a tablet itself affords the bearer with built in book apps. Bookshelf doesn't have all for all. Ok. But, you won't find much better.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Fletch
    3.0 out of 5 stars App is Okay
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I got this app because my school books are utilized through Bookshelf, but when I went to access the books there is a compatibility issue with Kindle, Bookshelf and my school. It seems that they require another linking party that Amazon does not acknowledge. So in a sense the app is useless to me. I am sure the app works for all intensive purposes, but I am not going to pay twice for the books that I already get from school.
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  • Brian Packard
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you ANY MBS direct or the like get this
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    If you ANY MBS direct or the like get this. It's free, and it will gladly read your text books to you, as well as being super handy when going out and about and need to take your book with you. I've had this for the full 4 years of college and honestly it is the greatest thing next to sliced bread. Keep in mind that it does download the book to your phone, kindle or tablet, but they are not very large.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Julie Richter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to use
    Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Downloaded go use for textbooks while I was doing remote college courses and worked perfectly to keep them organized.
    Report
  • gioghi
    1.0 out of 5 stars testo
    Reviewed in Italy on September 15, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Non formatta il testo. Impossible l'uso.
    Report
  • Ulrike Frey
    5.0 out of 5 stars toll
    Reviewed in Germany on January 31, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    liest epup 2 und epup 3, Taglicht und 4 weitere Schattierungen sowie unterschiedliche Schriftgrößen sind enthalten. Auf der rechten Seite kann man in die einzelnen Kapitel springen, Notizen machen
    Report
  • M Demian
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great app
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A very useful app! Makes reading and referring to textbooks on my iPhone and iPad very easy.
    Report
  • Emily
    5.0 out of 5 stars SO EASY
    Reviewed in Australia on January 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This program is really cool. very helpful not only with my study material also with my other varied vocations. Highly recommend
    Report
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