Collections and reading lists
Build shelves, projects, queues, and saved views without changing where your files live.
Why collections exist
Folders, categories, and tags are useful, but they answer different questions. A folder says where a file lives. A category says what broad subject it belongs to. A tag adds a flexible label. A collection is for a purpose: a project, a course, a shelf, a research trail, or a hand-picked group of books you want to return to.
The same book can appear in multiple collections without being copied. You can keep your files in one place and still build several ways to browse the same library.
Manual collections
Manual collections are shelves you curate yourself. Add books, remove books, rename the collection, and use it as a stable group in the sidebar.
They work well for:
- Books for a specific project or class
- A hand-picked reference shelf
- Books you want to compare later
- Research sources for an article, talk, or thesis
- Temporary cleanup groups while organizing a large library
Reading lists
Reading lists are for intent: what you want to read, review, or revisit. Use them for a TBR queue, a study plan, or a shortlist for the next topic you want to explore.
A reading list is separate from reading status. A book can be in a list because you plan to read it, even if you have not started it yet; or because you want to revisit it after finishing.
Smart collections
Smart collections are saved views that update from rules. Instead of adding books by hand, you define what should match, and Papyrium keeps the collection up to date as your library changes.
Examples:
- Unread books in a category
- Books added recently
- Finished books with notes
- Books missing authors or categories
- Favorites you opened in the last month
Smart collections are an advanced feature in the current alpha. The rule editor is functional, but not yet as polished as the rest of the library UI.
Collection folders
Collection folders help keep the sidebar tidy. They organize collections and reading lists; they do not hold books directly.
For example, you might keep project collections under one folder, study lists under another, and cleanup views under a third.
How to choose
| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| A hand-picked shelf | Manual collection |
| A queue of books to read | Reading list |
| A view that updates by rules | Smart collection |
| A way to tidy the sidebar | Collection folder |
Use them with AI agents
If you enable the local MCP server, an AI agent can also work with collections and reading lists. For example, you can ask it to build a reading list from books you already own, find books in a collection that are missing metadata, or add related books to a project shelf.
Write access is still opt-in. The agent can read your collections when MCP is enabled, but changing collections requires Allow edits — a separate toggle in Settings → MCP.
Related
If you are still deciding how files should enter the library, see Folders & Imports. For agent workflows, see AI Agents & MCP.