How to import BookBuddy into SHELVD
BookBuddy gives readers a detailed catalog of the books they own. If you also want to track your reading in SHELVD, you can bring over a BookBuddy CSV without rebuilding your book list by hand.
This is a one-time import. Review what transfers below before you move anything, and keep your original export as a backup.
1. Export your BookBuddy library
- Open BookBuddy and use its library export controls. Choose CSV, not PDF or an HTML catalog.
- Include all fields if that option is available. In particular, keep Title, Author, ISBN, Status, Rating, Date Finished, and Date Added. Keep the original BookBuddy filename so SHELVD can recognize a minimal export.
- Save the original CSV in Files or another safe location. Upload it directly rather than opening and resaving it in a spreadsheet first.
What transfers to SHELVD
| Data | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Books and editions | Titles and authors transfer. Valid ISBNs help identify editions; rows without recognized identifiers use title and author matching. Review ambiguous matches. |
| Reading status | Unread maps to Want to Read, Reading to Currently Reading, and Finished to Completed. Abandoned or DNF statuses map to Set Aside. |
| Ratings | Ratings transfer as whole stars. Fractional ratings round to the nearest whole star; an empty or zero rating stays unrated. |
| Dates | Date Added transfers when present. Date Finished transfers for completed books. Date Started can help infer status but does not recreate a start-date history. |
| Book details | Supported page counts, publisher, publication year, and uploaded cover URLs can transfer when supplied. A cover URL must remain accessible. |
What does not transfer
Private notes, tags, categories, locations, wish-list flags, loans, purchases, and activity logs are not recreated by this importer. Current Page is not imported: completed books start at 100%, other statuses at 0%. Keep BookBuddy and your original export if you rely on those details.
2. Preview and import the CSV
- In SHELVD, open Settings > Data or the Add Books import flow and upload the original CSV.
- Check that the preview recognizes BookBuddy. Review book matches, editions, and shelf mapping. Stop and get help if the source or matches look wrong.
- Confirm the import, then check its completion report for imported, skipped, and failed rows. Do not assume a submitted file is already finished.
- Open a few familiar books and check their status, ratings, and dates. Compare the report with the original file before deciding whether to retry any rows.
Once your books are in SHELVD, you can keep tracking there. A CSV cannot reconstruct daily reading sessions or page-by-page progress that the importer does not support.
Questions before you switch
Does this keep BookBuddy and SHELVD in sync?
No. This is a one-time CSV import, not a live BookBuddy connection. Later edits in one app do not automatically update the other.
Can I import another edition of a book I already own?
A recognized identifier can distinguish another edition. An edition already in your library can be skipped. Check the preview and completed import report rather than assuming every row creates a new book.
Other migration guides
Bring your books, then keep reading
Start with a free SHELVD account, then open Settings > Data to preview your CSV.
Import your BookBuddy library