Calibre-Web Library

beginner

Web interface for browsing Calibre ebook library.

Overview

Calibre-Web is a modern web application that provides a clean, responsive interface for browsing and managing Calibre ebook libraries through a web browser. Originally developed as an alternative to Calibre's built-in content server, Calibre-Web offers advanced features like user management, reading progress tracking, and OPDS catalog support for ebook readers. The application reads existing Calibre library databases without modifying them, making it safe to run alongside desktop Calibre installations. This Docker deployment uses the LinuxServer.io image with the universal-calibre mod, which adds the full Calibre toolkit directly into the container. This enables advanced features like ebook format conversion, metadata editing, and email delivery without requiring a separate Calibre installation on the host system. The configuration provides persistent storage for user settings, reading progress, and custom book covers while keeping the original library files separate. Book enthusiasts, librarians, and families with extensive ebook collections will find this setup invaluable for creating a centralized digital library accessible from any device. The combination of Calibre-Web's modern interface with the full Calibre toolset makes it ideal for users who want both casual browsing capabilities and professional library management features in a single containerized solution.

Key Features

Responsive web interface optimized for desktop and mobile ebook browsing
Multi-user support with individual reading lists, favorites, and progress tracking
OPDS catalog integration for direct connection with ebook reader apps
Built-in ebook reader supporting EPUB, PDF, CBR, CBZ, and TXT formats
Send-to-Kindle functionality with automatic format conversion
Advanced search and filtering with custom column support from Calibre libraries
User authentication with role-based permissions and reading restrictions
Automatic metadata fetching and cover art downloading for new books

Common Use Cases

1Home libraries wanting to share ebook collections across family members and devices
2Small libraries and reading groups providing digital book access to members
3Remote workers accessing their personal ebook library from multiple locations
4Book collectors organizing and browsing large digital libraries through modern interfaces
5Educational institutions providing students access to digital textbook collections
6Reading enthusiasts who want progress tracking and reading statistics across devices
7Users with mixed device ecosystems needing format conversion and delivery features

Prerequisites

Existing Calibre library with metadata.db file (can be created with desktop Calibre)
At least 512MB RAM for basic operation, 1GB+ recommended for large libraries
Port 8083 available on the host system for web interface access
Storage space for configuration data and optional book format conversions
Basic understanding of file permissions if using custom PUID/PGID values
SMTP server credentials if planning to use send-to-email features

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  calibre-web: 
3    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/calibre-web:latest
4    container_name: calibre-web
5    environment: 
6      - PUID=1000
7      - PGID=1000
8      - TZ=UTC
9      - DOCKER_MODS=linuxserver/mods:universal-calibre
10    volumes: 
11      - calibre-config:/config
12      - /path/to/books:/books
13    ports: 
14      - "8083:8083"
15    networks: 
16      - calibre-network
17    restart: unless-stopped
18
19volumes: 
20  calibre-config: 
21
22networks: 
23  calibre-network: 
24    driver: bridge

.env Template

.env

1# Calibre-Web
2# Change /path/to/books to your Calibre library location

Usage Notes

1Web UI at http://localhost:8083
2Default login: admin / admin123
3Point to Calibre metadata.db
4OPDS catalog support
5Send to Kindle feature

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  calibre-web:
5    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/calibre-web:latest
6    container_name: calibre-web
7    environment:
8      - PUID=1000
9      - PGID=1000
10      - TZ=UTC
11      - DOCKER_MODS=linuxserver/mods:universal-calibre
12    volumes:
13      - calibre-config:/config
14      - /path/to/books:/books
15    ports:
16      - "8083:8083"
17    networks:
18      - calibre-network
19    restart: unless-stopped
20
21volumes:
22  calibre-config:
23
24networks:
25  calibre-network:
26    driver: bridge
27EOF
28
29# 2. Create the .env file
30cat > .env << 'EOF'
31# Calibre-Web
32# Change /path/to/books to your Calibre library location
33EOF
34
35# 3. Start the services
36docker compose up -d
37
38# 4. View logs
39docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/calibre-web-library/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Database is locked error: Ensure desktop Calibre is closed and no other processes are accessing the library database
Books not displaying after setup: Verify the /books volume path contains a valid Calibre library with metadata.db file
Send to Kindle not working: Check SMTP settings in admin panel and ensure Gmail app passwords are used if applicable
Permission denied accessing library files: Adjust PUID/PGID environment variables to match your host user's ID
Conversion features unavailable: Confirm DOCKER_MODS=linuxserver/mods:universal-calibre is properly set in environment
Web interface shows 'Admin user not configured': Access admin panel to complete initial setup with database path configuration

Community Notes

Loading notes...

Download Recipe Kit

Get all files in a ready-to-deploy package

Includes docker-compose.yml, .env template, README, and license

Components

calibre-web

Related Recipes

Ad Space

Shortcuts: C CopyF FavoriteD Download