AI to reorganize single library, segmenting it into libraries by topic

[readmagnus]

I am in a pickle as I made an error many years ago by collecting all books, regardless of their topics, into one single library that has grown over the years to such a size that just browsing - as I do in my library with physical books to get inspired - has become impossible.

Would AI be useful to scan the library, ie "please select all romance books and copy them into a new library titled romance"?

If so, could this be implemented or how should I go about this?

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by readmagnus

I am in a pickle as I made an error many years ago by collecting all books, regardless of their topics, into one single library that has grown over the years to such a size that just browsing - as I do in my library with physical books to get inspired - has become impossible.

Would AI be useful to scan the library, ie "please select all romance books and copy them into a new library titled romance"?

If so, could this be implemented or how should I go about this?

Why do you need AI? How do you decide which books are Romance, which Mystery and so on...? If it's based on tags, it's straightforward wit a search. If there is no rule.... how is the AI going to decide which is the book topic?

[rantanplan]

I think this might actually be a good use case for AI, for a change. You could just test it out, like export a .csv of your books from Calibre and then ask Gemini to create a number of lists according of your specifications.

This will not necessarily do the job for you, but then you have verified if this actually gives good results and you at least have a starting point.

[Sirtel]

You don't really need separate physical libraries for genres; that would make searching across your whole library impossible. You can sort your books into virtual libraries, or just tag them, or use a custom genre column. Lots of options.

I keep all my books in one library too, and there are thousands of them. I use genre tags to categorize them.

[theducks]

For simple segmenting the Tag Browse clicks will reduce the View to the tags selected (yes you ca have more than 1, even a NOT (-) as part of the search). Saved Search for the ones you use frequently.
Or use an initial search to create a VL (Virtual Library), then use the Tag Browser on THAT restricted view .

In my case All (no VL active) is the whole Library, including empty books (those in my paper Library and wish listed for future collection)

Then I have a 'Have Read' VL that looks at the status of #read column,

A 'To Read' VL that looks for Not #read and formats: true (<-remember a Wish list is not available to read on a device.

A 'TBE' (to be edited), Books I have not done MY 'touchup' steps on. (Many of us want our read to look Just So, not have excesses like sample chapters, pages of 'raves' )
Calibre has ways of use that most never dreamed of (I still get surprised when someone posts needing help to use it their way and IT CAN BE DONE)

[AnnieQuinn]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

You don't really need separate physical libraries for genres; that would make searching across your whole library impossible. You can sort your books into virtual libraries, or just tag them, or use a custom genre column. Lots of options.

I keep all my books in one library too, and there are thousands of them. I use genre tags to categorize them.

I wish I had known about virtual libraries and "reading goal" plugins sooner, before I started building my own Calibre library. I would have definitely only used one library.

Because I didn't know, I created three libraries.

Although they are essentially clear, logical, and easy to follow, overall they are fine.

But they are quite inconvenient if I need to use a plugin to track my reading progress for statistics.

[theducks]

Just add (Bulk Metadata Edit) a unique (relevant?)Tag, the Select all : right-click: Copy to Library: <target>:<choice if to delete or not> (Why not Keep, the archive the old lib

Repeat sequence for the other (be sure to use a different tag).
Create VL's by those tags (and whatever).

Copy to Library Moves all metadata and books.

BTW Prefferences :adding Books: Adding Actions has a setting for what to do if it runs into a clash

[AnnieQuinn]

Originally Posted by theducks

Just add (Bulk Metadata Edit) a unique (relevant?)Tag, the Select all : right-click: Copy to Library: <target>:<choice if to delete or not> (Why not Keep, the archive the old lib

Repeat sequence for the other (be sure to use a different tag).
Create VL's by those tags (and whatever).

Copy to Library Moves all metadata and books.

BTW Prefferences :adding Books: Adding Actions has a setting for what to do if it runs into a clash

I know that.

But initially, when building them individually, I had a separate tag system for each library, and each library had a different sub-column system.

Actually, it's not too difficult to implement the merging process technically.

The obstacle lies in my personal habits. I'm used to the current way of operating. I occasionally complain, "If only I had known this from the beginning," but I'm hesitant to change my existing routine once everything is running smoothly.

Partly because the total number of libraries will be quite large (60,000 books), so merging them might cause some lag.

P.S. Don't be surprised by the number of books, as most are small ebooks and short fanfictions that I haven't had time to categorize and merge yet. 100 files = 1 regular book file.