BookLore
$9.00 / month with a 7-day free trial and a $1.00 sign-up fee
Self-hosted digital library for PDFs and ePubs — built-in reader, multi-user, OPDS, metadata from Goodreads and Google Books.
A managed BookLore instance hosted on ElfHosted. Host and manage your PDF and ePub library with a fast built-in web reader, automatic metadata from Goodreads, Amazon, and Google Books, multi-user access with per-library permissions, and an OPDS 1.2 catalog for external reading apps. No Calibre database required — upload books directly. Fully FOSS, actively maintained.
BookLore does what Calibre Web does, without needing a Calibre database to back it. Upload your PDFs and ePubs, get covers and metadata automatically, share with the household, read in any browser.
What is BookLore?
BookLore is a self-hosted web app for hosting, managing, and reading digital book libraries. Upload PDF and ePub files — BookLore fetches metadata (title, author, cover, description, ratings) automatically from Goodreads, Amazon, and Google Books, organises them into libraries and shelves, and makes them readable in any browser via a built-in reader. Multi-user accounts, OPDS 1.2 for external apps, and bulk upload round out the feature set.
This is a managed BookLore instance on ElfHosted: pre-configured with mounts, TLS, and SSO. Upload your ebook collection or rclone-mount cloud storage, and your library is accessible from any browser.
Key Features
- 📚 PDF and ePub support: upload any PDF or ePub; BookLore handles rendering in the built-in reader with customisable reading settings.
- 🔍 Auto-metadata fetch: pulls title, author, cover art, description, and ratings from Goodreads, Amazon, and Google Books. Manual editing when auto-fetch needs a nudge.
- 📖 Built-in reader: fast, feature-rich in-browser reader for both PDF and ePub, with adjustable fonts, themes, and layout options.
- 📡 OPDS 1.2: expose your library to Kobo, KOReader, Moon+ Reader, and any other OPDS-aware reading app or device.
- 👥 Multi-user: per-user library access, permissions, reading progress, and stats. Admin controls for account management.
- 📤 Bulk upload: upload multiple books at once with automatic metadata detection — no one-at-a-time entry.
- 🔗 Book sharing: email-based sharing for sending books to specific users.
- 🔓 FOSS, actively maintained: frequent releases on a fast dev cadence.
- 🔄 Updates handled: ElfHosted keeps BookLore current.
BookLore vs Calibre Web vs Kavita
Three self-hosted ebook server options, each with a different model:
- BookLore (this product) — upload-native library, no Calibre database required. Better built-in reader than Calibre Web. Strong metadata from Goodreads/Amazon/Google Books. Best for users who want a clean, self-contained ebook server without the Calibre dependency.
- Calibre Web (Automated) — front-end on a Calibre database with automated ingestion pipeline. Best for users who already manage their library in Calibre desktop and want a web UI with Kindle/Kobo delivery.
- Kavita — all-rounder for mixed libraries (ebooks + comics + manga + webtoons). OPDS for Tachiyomi/Mihon. Best when your collection spans multiple formats, not just text ebooks.
Pick BookLore for a clean ebook-only server with no Calibre dependency. Pick Calibre Web if you live in the Calibre ecosystem. Pick Kavita for mixed ebook + comics libraries.
Why Run BookLore on ElfHosted?
BookLore is straightforward to self-host — until you want OPDS available on your Kobo away from home, or you want to share the library with family members on different networks. ElfHosted handles all of that:
- HTTPS on your own ElfHosted subdomain — OPDS apps and browsers connect from anywhere.
- Library storage via rclone-mounted cloud (Google Drive, OneDrive, S3, B2) or upload directly.
- SSO on the web UI; OPDS uses BookLore's own user accounts.
- Updates roll out without you touching anything.
Technical Specifications
- 🛠️ Software: BookLore (FOSS)
- 📚 Formats: PDF, ePub
- 🔍 Metadata sources: Goodreads, Amazon, Google Books (auto-fetch + manual edit)
- 📡 OPDS: v1.2 compatible — Kobo, KOReader, Moon+ Reader, and any OPDS client
- 🔑 Subscription: none required — BookLore is fully FOSS
- 📂 Library storage: upload directly or rclone-mount cloud storage
- 🌐 Access: hosted on your ElfHosted subdomain with TLS
- 🔄 Updates: handled by ElfHosted
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run BookLore without self-hosting it?
Add it to your ElfHosted subscription — this product is a managed BookLore instance with TLS and SSO pre-configured. No Docker, no reverse proxy, no database setup.
Do I need Calibre?
No. BookLore is independent of Calibre. You upload books directly via the web UI or rclone-mounted cloud storage; BookLore manages its own metadata database. If you need a Calibre database front-end, see Calibre Web (Automated).
Does it work with Kobo or Kindle?
Kobo devices can browse and download via OPDS — configure the OPDS catalog URL in your Kobo's settings. Kindle is less straightforward since it doesn't support OPDS natively; use BookLore's web UI or sideload via USB.
How does this compare to Kavita?
Kavita handles ebooks, comics, manga, and webtoons in one server. BookLore is ebook-focused (PDF and ePub), with stronger metadata integration (Goodreads, Amazon) and a clean reader. For mixed ebook+comics libraries, Kavita is more flexible. For a pure text-ebook server with better metadata, BookLore edges ahead.
Can multiple people use the same instance?
Yes — BookLore has multi-user support with per-library permissions and per-user reading progress. Admins control which libraries each user can access.
Does this come with books?
No. BookLore is the server — bring your own PDF and ePub collection.
Hosted BookLore is the self-contained ebook server that doesn't need a Calibre database — upload your PDFs and ePubs, get metadata automatically from Goodreads and Google Books, read in any browser or OPDS client, share with the household. Bring your library; we run the server.
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