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📚 First Library Configuration

Set up your first library to organize and manage your digital book collection. A library monitors one or more folders for automatic indexing and metadata enrichment.

📖 Understanding Libraries​

A library is a logical grouping of book folders with its own configuration and metadata cache. Each library can monitor multiple folders, but folders can only belong to one library.

Supported Formats: EPUB, PDF, CBZ, CBR, and CB7

Multiple Libraries

Create separate libraries for different collections (e.g., Novels, Comics, Technical Books).

🛠️ Configuration Steps​

Step 1: Start Library Creation​

Click "Add a Library" from your dashboard.

Empty Dashboard

Step 2: Configure Library Details​

Library Details Form

Required:

  • Library Name: Descriptive identifier (e.g., "Science Fiction", "Manga Collection")
  • Library Icon: Visual identifier from icon picker

Optional:

  • Monitoring: Enable to automatically detect new/changed/deleted books
    • Recommended for active collections
    • May impact performance with large folders

Click "Next" to continue.

Step 3: Add Book Folders​

  1. Click "Add Book Folders"
  2. Navigate to your books folder
  3. Click "Select" to confirm

Add Book Folders Library Folder Picker

Managing Folders:

Selected Library Folders

  • Multiple folders can be added to one library
  • Remove folders using the ❌ button
  • Ensure Docker has read permissions for selected paths
Permissions

Check Docker volume mounts in docker-compose.yml if folders aren't accessible.

Click "Save" to begin processing.

Step 4: Library Processing​

Booklore automatically processes your library:

Library Processing

Processing includes:

  1. Folder scanning for supported files
  2. Metadata extraction from books
  3. Cover thumbnail generation
  4. Database indexing
Background Processing

Processing continues in the background. Navigate freely while it completes.

🎯 Post-Setup​

Verify Setup​

  1. Check book count in sidebar
  2. Browse library to view indexed books
  3. Test search functionality

Next Steps​

  • Configure metadata providers
  • Adjust library settings for monitoring and caching
  • Add more libraries for different collections
Setup Complete!

Your library is ready. Start browsing, searching, and reading your collection!

📋 Troubleshooting​

Books Not Appearing​

Check:

  • Docker volume mounts in docker-compose.yml
  • File formats are supported
  • Files have proper extensions (.epub, .pdf, etc.)
  • Container logs for permission errors

Slow Processing​

Solutions:

  • Increase Docker memory/CPU limits
  • Process network folders in batches
  • Temporarily disable monitoring during scan
  • Split into smaller libraries

Missing Metadata​

Solutions:

  • Use online metadata fetchers
  • Manually add covers/data via editor
  • Check file integrity

Monitoring Not Working​

Solutions:

  • Verify monitoring enabled in settings
  • Trigger manual scan: Library settings → Scan Now
  • Use scheduled scans for network folders