Looking for five readers to try OpenShelf and share honest feedback — free access

[JHAT]

Hi everyone,

I’m developing OpenShelf, a native ebook library manager for Mac, with companion apps for iPhone and iPad. I’d like to invite a few MobileRead members to try it with their own collections and help shape its development.

I’m offering free access to the first five people interested in trying it and providing honest feedback. I’d love to hear what works well, what feels awkward, and what you think is missing.

OpenShelf is currently in beta. The Mac app handles library management, while the iPhone and iPad apps let you browse your collection, manage reading lists, and read your books.

Here’s what’s available:

• EPUB and PDF import: Add books to your library, review duplicate matches, and attach files to existing book records. You can also create catalog entries before adding a book file.
• Calibre library import: Bring over books, covers, metadata, and custom-column data through a read-only import that preserves your original Calibre library.
• Library browsing and organization: Browse covers or lists, search your collection, and filter by author, series, genre, or personal tags. Track reading status and your wish list, with ratings and book notes on Mac.
• Smart Collections: Quickly access Continue Reading, Unread, Recently Added, Coming Soon, and your Wish List.
• Personal Reading Lists: Create lists, add or remove books, drag books into your preferred reading order, and undo changes. Available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, with optional iCloud synchronization.
• Built-in EPUB reader: Read DRM-free, reflowable EPUBs with chapter navigation, search within the book, bookmarks, swipe or continuous scrolling, and adjustable fonts, text size, themes, margins, and spacing. PDFs open through document preview, and external reader options are also available.
• Reading across devices: Optional iCloud synchronization keeps your library, reading lists, and OpenShelf EPUB reading position available across your devices. Download books on iPhone or iPad for offline reading.
• Metadata and cover editing on Mac: Update titles, authors, series information, descriptions, genres, and covers. Look up information through Open Library and Google Books and review proposed changes before applying them.
• Bulk editing: Update multiple books through a native Mac table with configurable columns, sorting by multiple columns, staged Undo/Redo, and a review before saving.
• Author and Series Search: Research books missing from your collection, compare results against your library, inspect sources, and review additions or updates. Optional AI-assisted research uses your own provider account; any provider charges are separate.
• Library Health: Find missing authors, covers, descriptions, and other metadata, along with invalid ISBNs, author or series naming variations, and series-numbering issues.
• Library Insights: See reading-status totals, your most-read authors and genres, and progress through the series in your collection.
• Backup, restore, and export: Create verified library backups, restore from a backup, and export selected EPUBs with filename and folder options. OpenShelf Classic migration and compatibility export are also supported.
• Optional Mac extensions: Extend import and conversion workflows through compatible, separately installed plugins.
• Local storage with optional cloud sync: Your library is stored on your devices, with optional synchronization through your own iCloud account.

You’ll need macOS 14 or later for the main library app. The optional mobile companions require iOS/iPadOS 17 or later and connect to the library published by your Mac.

I’d particularly welcome feedback from people with existing Calibre libraries, larger collections, or lots of books in series—but smaller libraries are welcome too.

If you’re interested, reply here or send me a private message with the devices you use and how you currently manage your ebooks. I’ll follow up with access details.

Thanks for helping me make OpenShelf more useful for fellow readers!