Focus without leaving the reader
The Spotify mark in the reader chrome opens a fixed-width dock left of Study AI. Paste a track, playlist, or podcast URL — Shelf resolves it to Spotify's dark embed. Login happens inside Spotify's player, not through a Shelf OAuth flow.
Keep listening while you read
Hiding the dock with × or the toolbar keeps the embed mounted off-screen so audio continues. A floating chip can restore the panel or stop playback. Last URL, recents, and optional per-collection focus playlists persist in localStorage.
Article 14 — equality before law
Study ritual
Pair focus audio with scheduled reading tasks: same playlist every time you open a collection builds a cue to enter deep work — especially useful for long PDF sessions before exams.
Why audio beside PDF
Some readers focus better with low-volume instrumentals or familiar playlists — not Shelf music, your Spotify account linked in Settings.
Playback controls sit beside the reader so you never alt-tab to Spotify and lose scroll position.
Article 14 — equality before law
Setup
Connect Spotify OAuth once; pick a playlist or album for focus sessions. Disconnect anytime from Settings.
Shelf does not store your Spotify password — tokens follow Spotify's OAuth flow.
Reader layout
Compact now-playing strip — play/pause, skip, volume — keeps chrome minimal. Collapse when you need full width for split view.
Article 14 — equality before law
Study etiquette
Lyrics-heavy rap distracts some users; lyric-free focus playlists work best for dense non-fiction. Experiment once, save the playlist ID in your study ritual doc.
Premium Spotify
Shelf integration assumes a normal Spotify account; ad interruptions are Spotify-side, not Shelf-side.
Article 14 — equality before law
Alternatives
No Spotify? Use system audio and reader fullscreen — Shelf does not block other apps. Integration is convenience, not requirement.