diff --git a/src/library.ts b/src/library.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc7a367
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/library.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
+import { isDesktop } from "./ipc";
+import { type Book, createBook, starterBook } from "./model/book";
+
+export interface BookSummary {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  author: string;
+}
+
+export async function listBooks(): Promise<BookSummary[]> {
+  if (!isDesktop) return [];
+  return invoke<BookSummary[]>("list_books");
+}
+
+export async function loadBook(id: string): Promise<Book> {
+  const contents = await invoke<string>("load_book", { id });
+  return JSON.parse(contents) as Book;
+}
+
+export async function saveBook(book: Book): Promise<void> {
+  if (!isDesktop) return;
+  await invoke("save_book", { id: book.id, contents: JSON.stringify(book, null, 2) });
+}
+
+export async function deleteBook(id: string): Promise<void> {
+  if (!isDesktop) return;
+  await invoke("delete_book", { id });
+}
+
+export function newBook(): Book {
+  return createBook();
+}
+
+export function exampleBook(): Book {
+  return starterBook();
+}