How do you track reading status?

[Far_Pen_6884]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been considering different ways to keep track of my reading status in my calibre library and would love to hear what others prefer.

I’ve seen a few common approaches:

• A simple Yes/No column (Have I read it or not?)
• A #last_read_date column for tracking when the book was last finished
• A tag-like system where you aggregate multiple read dates, especially useful if you reread books often
• A column with fixed values like "To Be Read (TBR)," "Currently Reading (CR)," "Want To Read (WTR)," "Read," and "Did Not Finish (DNF)"

Personally, I’m thinking I might use a Yes/No column just to quickly mark whether I’ve read a book. Then, I’d complement that with an automated action chain that populates a #last_read_date column as well as a #read_dates tag-like aggregate of dates.

But I’m curious about what others use for their reading status. Do you prefer simple columns, tag/date aggregates, or fixed status labels? And have you found any particular method that works well for managing multiple rereads or tracking progress over time?

There is a similar thread here.

[theducks]

I use a #finished Date column.
In addition:
a 2000 date means abandoned
a 1999 date means I epubsplit (the PI) this into individual books (as needed to fill gaps in my collection. )

2014 dates are mostly when I built my Library documenting my paper library (and did not know WHEN I really finished. many went back to the 70's)

Blank is my out'ta control TBR pile

[Sirtel]

I use a tag and column coloring for marking if the book has been read or not. I don't track dates, either first read or reread ones. I use a different custom column for any other kind of status (to be read soon, to be read later or nothing at all, meaning I'll probably never read those books, given the number of them and the average lifespan of Homo Sapiens).

I don't bother with Currently Reading - this changes every few days and I just mark the book as read when finished. I do back up my reading progress on my Kobo devices whenever I happen to connect them to calibre, which is a few times per month. So that's not really up to date either.

In short, I don't want to make things too complicated or micromanage every tiny detail of my reading life. Reading is a pleasure and relaxation for me, not a competition or something to track to the smallest details. I don't even record the year I read something, it doesn't matter to me. YMMV.

[dunhill]

I use the Goodreads Sync plugin which updates my calibre with the start and end dates of readings.

[BetterRed]

This maybe of interest ==>> Introducing PageBlaze

I don't think it integrates with calibre, even though the developer has written a couple of calibre plugins.

BR

[DNSB]

While I do store the reading stats from my Kobo ereaders more for generating books read and total time spent reading once a month or so. I don't keep track of re-reads. I prefer spending more time reading and less time worrying about my reading statistics—reading is much more enjoyable to me.