Sri Sathya Sai Center of Richmond Library Portal

Using the library

The centre's books are lent by members, to members. Everything you need for a first visit — signing in, finding a book, and giving it back.

Create an account
This library is intended solely for Sri Sathya Sai spiritual literature and related content. Kindly ensure that any book you list falls within this scope.

Getting started

  1. Create your account

    Sign in with your Google account, or register with an email address and password. Either way you end up in the same place.

  2. Confirm your email address

    We send a single-use link the moment you register. You cannot borrow or list a book until you open it — that is what stops a mistyped address from quietly swallowing every reminder we send you. If it never arrives, sign in and ask for a new one.

  3. Find something to read

    Search the catalogue by title, author, genre, ISBN, or book ID. You can also narrow by genre, by language, and to books that are available right now.

  4. Check it out

    Open the book and press Check this book out. You will see whose copy it is, along with their phone number and email — that is the person you arrange collection and return with.

  5. All copies out? Join the queue

    Press Place a hold and you are in line for the next copy. The owner and the library admins are told, and while anybody is waiting the book cannot be extended — so it comes back on its due date.

  6. Need longer? Extend it

    From 7 days before a book is due — or any time once it is overdue — My loans shows an Extend button that gives you another 1 month, up to 2 times per loan. The owner is told. If somebody has a hold on the book it cannot be extended — others are waiting, so please return it.

  7. Review what you read

    Open any book and scroll to Reviews. Pick one to five stars and, if you like, add a few words for the next reader — the comment is optional. You need to be signed in, and you get one review per book: post again to change it, or press Remove my review to take it down. The book's owner is emailed when you first review it.

  8. Find the well-loved ones

    Each catalogue card shows its average stars and how many reviews they come from. Use the Rating filter to see only books rated, say, 4★ and up — or Not yet rated to find one waiting for its first review — and sort by Top rated to put the favourites first.

Lending your own books

Adding a book
Use Add a book. Title and author are required; genre, language, year, ISBN and the number of copies are yours to fill in. Language starts on English — change it for a Tamil, Hindi, or Telugu copy.
Photographs
Up to 5 per book. The first becomes the cover shown in the catalogue, so lead with the front cover. You can pick files you already have or take a photo there and then, and either way straighten, crop and size it before it is saved.
Staying in control
The book remains yours. You are emailed whenever somebody borrows it or places a hold on it, and only you or an admin can mark it returned.
Reviews
When a member reviews one of your books you are emailed their stars and comment (unless you have turned email notices off in your profile). Changes they make afterwards are not sent again. Members manage their own reviews; an admin can remove one that does not belong.
Your shelf
My books shows everything listed under your name, and who currently has each copy.