On hq.local, I have two Calibre libraries, one for EPUBs, and one for PDFs/comics.
Size
There are approximately 80,000 books across both libraries.
But.. WHY?!
I use both libraries both for recreational reading, (mostly comics and some written fiction) and research for work, as a tech worker, and as an aspiring ‘renaissance man ’.
Hosting
- They are managed by Server.io’s Calibre docker containerised services . They are both running Calibre content server to serve directly to my e-readers. I also use Calibre Web Automated docker containerised services for both libraries.
- So in total, there are three services hosted, and three ways of accessing each Calibre library, per library - 1) the Calibre application running via a web-based remote desktop client, which I use for serious administration, but only sparingly as it takes up a lot of server resources when connected 2) The Calibre content server accessible on my e-readers and 3) The Calibre Web interface which I use to browse and read the books on computers.
Sources
- I have built them up primarily from HumbleBundle.com book purchases, where the majority of the money goes to charity, and I still get a good set of e-books.
- I also ‘inherited’ a large collection of already DRM-stripped fiction books from a friend.
- Occasionally I use resources such as Anna’s Archive to download DRM-stripped books.
Access
Both libraries are accessible via my ZeroTier VPN . I use the Moon Reader application on Android devices to access the Calibre content server port, and I use the Calibre content server web interface on my Kobo H20 E-Reader .
Ingest
- I have two Samba mounts which I use across my network: ‘incomingebooks’ and ‘incomingcomics’. I have them mapped to network drive letters on my Windows PCs, which I use most of the time.
- Any files put in those shares will be automatically picked up my Calibre Web Automated’s regular ingest run, and converted to epubs. I then clear down the directory regularly.
- I used to keep PDFs seperate and manually import them via the Calibre remote desktop via web, but I don’t see a disadvantage in converting the PDFs into epubs in the comics/PDFs library.
Reading
I have three e-readers.
- A 2020 Kindle Paperwhite which is not used with Calibre, instead it’s used with the 100 or so books I have bought on Kindle throughout the years.
- A Kobo H20 e-reader which is used for EPUBs only, and can access the Calibre EPUBs content server via wi-fi while I’m in the house to download books.
- A cheap 2024 Lenovo android tablet, which I use for both PDFs/comics and EPUBs, via the Moon Reader Android app . It also has a SIM card with a 4G data connection with a small amount of monthly data use quota, so I can connect to my VPN and download books while out of the house. This is my preferred e-reader at the moment due to the good quality colour display, which is good for reading PDFs/comics. I have stripped all the other applications and distractions off there.
I also have Moon Reader on my Android mobile phone, with access again to both libraries via VPN.
Other Libraries
- I have a separate collection of over 400 physical books which I keep catalogued on GoodReads .
- I have a small collection of around 100 Kindle DRM’d books which I’m slowly cataloguing on GoodReads, on the Kindle shelf .
- I have a small collection of around 100 Kobo store DRM’d books which I’m slowly cataloguing on GoodReads, on the Kobo shelf .
