# How to track books you borrow or lend

> Remember who has each book, when it's due back and when it was returned. Record loans in Bookrise and set a reminder for the due date.

Source: https://bookrise.app/help/borrowed-and-lent-books/ · Updated 2026-10-27

Lent a favorite to a friend, or borrowed your next read? Record who has the book and when it's due back. Bookrise keeps each loan in the book's **History**, ready to check when you need it.

## Record a loan

1. Open the book's page and scroll to **History**.
2. Tap **Add Event**.
3. Under **Event**, choose **Borrowed** for a book you've borrowed or **Lent** for one you've lent to someone else.
4. Set **Date** to the day the loan started.
5. Enter the person's name under **Borrowed From** or **Lent To**. If you've entered them before, choose their name from the list. Use **New Person…** to add someone new.
6. If you'd like a reminder, choose a **Due Back** date and turn on **Remind Me**. Allow notifications if Bookrise asks.
7. Add a **Note** if you like, then tap the checkmark to save.

![A Lent event with the date, Lent To, a Due Back date and Remind Me turned on](https://bookrise.app/_astro/book-events--event-sheet.Ctya5U-M_Z5vHYr.webp)

The loan appears in **History** with the dates and person you've entered. Tap it whenever you need to check or change the details. To remove it, choose **Delete Event**.

You can also use **History** to record purchases, gifts and sales. [Learn about book purchases and spending](/help/purchases-and-money-spent/).

## When the book comes back

Whether you're returning a borrowed book or getting your own copy back:

1. Open the book and tap **Add Event** in **History**.
2. Choose **Returned** and set the date.
3. Tap the checkmark to save.

This closes the most recent loan and stops its reminder. You don't need to choose the person again.

## Set ownership without recording a loan

If you only want to mark whether a book is yours, use **Ownership Status** while adding or editing it. Under **Book Status**, choose **Owned**, **Not Owned** or **Borrowed**.

Books marked **Owned** appear in the **Owned** list on the **Books** tab. To remember a person's name or a due date as well, record the loan in **History**.

## How history changes the ownership status

When you record events in **History**, the latest one sets the book's **Ownership Status**:

- **Bought** or **Received as Gift**: **Owned**
- **Sold**: **Not Owned**
- **Borrowed**: **Borrowed**
- **Lent**: **Owned**, since it's still your book
- **Returned** after **Borrowed**: **Not Owned**
- **Returned** after **Lent**: **Owned**

![A book's History with Bought, Lent and Returned events](https://bookrise.app/_astro/book-events--history.BZj9V4ZJ_2oAcn5.webp)

If you delete an event, Bookrise updates the status to match the remaining history.

## Due-back reminders

With **Remind Me** on, you'll get a notification on the due date. It tells you who to return a borrowed book to, or who is due to return one to you.

Reminders are only sent while the loan is the book's latest event. Recording a return stops them.

To choose when reminders arrive, open **Settings** → **Reminders** and change **Due-Back Reminder Time** under **Book Loans**. The default is 9:00 AM, and your choice applies to every loan.

![Reminders in Settings with Due-Back Reminder Time set to 9:00 AM under Book Loans](https://bookrise.app/_astro/book-events--due-reminder-time.CA2mzrHN_ZHOWjf.webp)

## Keep your loans together

Create collections such as "Lent Out" and "Borrowed" to find these books in one place. Add books to the collection as you lend or borrow them, then remove them when they're returned. [Learn how to use collections](/help/categories-and-collections/).

Bookrise keeps the loan details on each book's page; it doesn't create a separate list of all your loans.

## FAQ

### Can I see all the books I've lent out in one place?

You can keep them together in a collection such as "Lent Out". Bookrise keeps each loan in the book's History, but doesn't create a separate list of all your loans.

### When do due-back reminders arrive?

At 9:00 AM on the due date, unless you've chosen another time. Change it in Settings → Reminders → Due-Back Reminder Time. The same time applies to all your loans.

### Do I still get a reminder after the book comes back?

No. Record a Returned event in the book's History to close the loan and stop its reminder.