Your Booksnake. Your Privacy.

Booksnake does not collect personally identifying information, but it does collect aggregated, anonymized usage data. The Booksnake development team (“we,” “us,” “our”) uses this data to understand how people use Booksnake, identify areas for improvement, detect and troubleshoot bugs, and set future development priorities. We may also share aggregated, anonymized data with project partners, fellow researchers, or in scholarly publications or presentations.

These policies are effective as of September 19, 2023. If we modify these policies, add new policies, or remove existing policies, we will update this page. Please contact booksnakeapp@gmail.com with questions.

We collect the bare minimum of information

We collect the bare minimum of information necessary to fulfill our project goals. Specifically, we collect:

  1. The number of times you open Booksnake
  2. The total amount of time you spend using Booksnake
  3. The total amount of time you spend using Booksnake to view items in your space (i.e., using augmented reality)
  4. The IIIF manifest URL for any item you view in your space (i.e., using augmented reality)

This information is not linked to you or your device. This information is collected and stored using Google Firebase Analytics, and governed by Firebase privacy and security policies.

We collect additional information from beta testers

If you install a beta version of Booksnake, Apple, Inc., (“Apple”) collects data (described below) and makes this data available to the Booksnake development team via a secure, password-protected portal. Our use of this data is governed by our Apple Developer Account agreements with Apple, which stipulate that we may “use this information only to improve your app” and that we are “not permitted to share it with a third party.” Apple retains this data for one year and may use it to improve TestFlight, their app for managing beta testing. Data collected during beta testing on Apple devices and their governing policies are described more fully at https://testflight.apple.com/ under the heading “Your Privacy and Data.”

If you choose to download a beta version of the Booksnake app (“the Booksnake beta”) to your iPhone and/or iPad, Apple records data about whether you accessed the Booksnake beta via a TestFlight email invitation or via a public link. If you were invited via a TestFlight email invitation, Apple records your email address, first name, last name, and invitation status. Apple also records the number of times you have installed the Booksnake beta, the number of times you have opened the Booksnake beta, and the number of times the Booksnake beta has crashed.

If you choose to send feedback, crash reports, or screenshots about the Booksnake beta, Apple automatically records and makes available to the Booksnake development team the following additional data: 

  1. The name of the app being tested (Booksnake).
  2. The most recent version number and build number of the Booksnake beta that you have access to.
  3. The version number and build number of the Booksnake beta installed on your device.
  4. The model name of your device.
  5. The version of iOS or iPadOS your device is running.
  6. The language your device is set to use.
  7. The wireless carrier (if any) your device is using.
  8. The time zone your device is set to.
  9. The type of CPU your device has installed.
  10. Whether your device was using a Wi-Fi connection, using a cellular connection, or had no connection at the moment when you chose to send feedback, along with your device’s network time.
  11. If an Apple Watch is paired to your device, the model and watchOS version of the paired Apple Watch.
  12. The length of time the Booksnake beta was open and running on your device before you chose to send feedback.
  13. The amount of disk space available on your device when you chose to send feedback.
  14. The battery level on your device when the person chose to send feedback.
  15. The screen resolution of your device.
  16. Crash logs, including information about how long the Booksnake beta was running before it crashed. 

Terms and Conditions

Patent pending. “Booksnake” is a trademark of Sean Fraga and is used with permission. The Booksnake ouroboros logo is copyright 2025 Ben McMillan and is used with permission. The software code is copyright 2025 University of Southern California. All rights reserved.

Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for educational, research and non-profit purposes, without fee, and without a written agreement is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice, this paragraph and the following three paragraphs appear in all copies.

Permission to make commercial use of this software may be obtained by contacting:
USC Stevens Center for Innovation
University of Southern California
1150 S. Olive Street, Suite 2300
Los Angeles, CA 90115, USA

This software program and documentation are copyrighted by The University of Southern California. The software program and documentation are supplied “as is”, without any accompanying services from USC. USC does not warrant that the operation of the program will be uninterrupted or error-free. The end-user understands that the program was developed for research purposes and is advised not to rely exclusively on the program for any reason.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BE LIABLE TO ANY PARTY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE AND ITS DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE SOFTWARE PROVIDED HEREUNDER IS ON AN “AS IS” BASIS, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS NO OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE, SUPPORT, UPDATES, ENHANCEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS.