Calibre: E-book Management & Lending
[an error occurred while processing this directive]At a Glance
Key Features
E-book Management
Organize and manage your digital collection with powerful cataloging, metadata editing, and organization tools.
Format Support
Support for all major e-book formats including EPUB, MOBI, PDF, AZW3, and 40+ other formats with automatic conversion.
Lending Circulation
Manage lending policies, checkout periods, holds, and reservations with configurable circulation rules.
Patron Interface
Customizable patron-facing interface for browsing, searching, and borrowing digital materials.
OPDS Support
OPDS (Open Publication Distribution System) compliant for seamless integration with e-readers and reading apps.
Self-Hosted
Full control over your data and infrastructure. Run on your own servers with no subscription or vendor dependency.
Setup Guide
- Assess Your Current State: Audit your existing e-book collection in OverDrive. Document metadata, lending policies, circulation data, and patron preferences. Export available reports to understand collection size and lending patterns.
- Plan Infrastructure: Determine server requirements (CPU, RAM, storage based on collection size). Choose between cloud hosting or on-premises. Plan for backups, disaster recovery, and bandwidth for patron access.
- Install and Configure Calibre: Deploy Calibre on your chosen infrastructure. Configure metadata sources, integrate with your library catalog, and set up OPDS endpoints for patron discovery.
- Migrate Content: Import your digital collection from OverDrive, including metadata, cover images, and lending records. Validate all formats convert correctly and test lending workflows.
- Staff Training: Train circulation staff on content management, patron lending management, and troubleshooting. Develop documentation for common tasks and escalation procedures.
- Pilot Testing: Launch with a small collection and limited patron access. Gather feedback on lending experience, performance, and usability. Refine configurations based on testing results.
- Full Launch: Migrate complete collection and enable for all patrons. Monitor system performance, error logs, and patron feedback. Establish support procedures for ongoing operations.
Resources & Links
Official Homepage
Visit the main Calibre project site for downloads, documentation, and project news.
Documentation
Comprehensive manual covering installation, configuration, and all features with practical examples.
Community Forum
Active forum where you can ask questions, share configurations, and learn from other library implementers.