Build Your Own Smart Digital Library with BookLore

Ever feel like your digital book collection is just a messy folder of PDFs and EPUBs? Or maybe you've wanted to self-host something like Calibre Web but with a bit more automation and a cleaner interface? That's exactly the itch BookLore scratches.

It's a self-hosted web application that transforms your pile of ebooks into a browsable, searchable digital library. Think of it as your personal librarian that not only organizes your books but also smartly categorizes them for you.

What It Does

BookLore is a Go-based web application that you run on your own server. You point it at a directory containing your ebooks (EPUB, PDF, etc.), and it gets to work. It extracts metadata from the files themselves, fetches additional details like covers and descriptions from online sources, and presents everything in a clean, modern web interface.

The core job is simple: take unstructured files and turn them into a structured, visual library you can access from any browser on your network.

Why It's Cool

The "smart" features are what make BookLore stand out. It's not just a static catalog.

• Smart Shelves: This is the killer feature. You can create dynamic shelves using filters. Make a shelf for "All fantasy books from the last 5 years" or "Unread non-fiction about programming." The shelves update automatically as your library changes.
• Auto-Metadata & Covers: The app automatically parses your files and hunts down missing metadata and cover art, saving you hours of manual tagging.
• Readable in Browser: For supported formats, you can read your books directly in the browser—no need to download first.
• Self-Hosted & Private: Your library, your rules. All your data stays on your hardware. It's perfect for your home server, a NAS, or a private VPS.
• Modern Stack: Built with Go (backend) and TypeScript/React (frontend), it's a single, performant binary that's relatively straightforward to deploy.

How to Try It

The quickest way to get a feel for it is to check out the repository. The README has all the details for getting it up and running.

1. Head over to the GitHub repo: github.com/booklore-app/booklore
2. You'll need Go 1.21+ and Node.js 18+ to build from source. The project uses make to simplify the build process (make build).
3. For deployment, you can run the binary directly, or use the provided Docker examples. Configure it to point to your book directory, set up an admin user, and you're good to go.

There's no live public demo (it's meant for your private books, after all), but the repository is active and the documentation will guide you through setup.

Final Thoughts

As a developer, I appreciate tools that solve a real problem without overcomplicating it. BookLore feels like that. It's for anyone with a digital book collection who values ownership and automation. Whether you're a developer who wants to host it on a home lab, or just someone tired of manual ebook management, this project is a solid, practical solution. It's one of those tools that just makes sense once you start using it.

Found this project interesting? Follow us for more like it.
@githubprojects