LazyLibrarian

Self-Hosted

Automated book, comic, and magazine management & downloader

Overview

LazyLibrarian is a self-hosted automation tool for tracking, searching, and downloading books, comics, and magazines. It fetches metadata (covers, authors, descriptions), integrates with Calibre for library organization, and supports multiple formats (EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBR/CBZ). Deploy via Docker for easy setup or traditional Python installation. Ideal for book lovers seeking full control over their digital collection with minimal manual effort—automate updates and reduce time spent on manual searches.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  lazy_librarian:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: lazy-librarian
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Automated tracking & downloading of books, comics, and magazines
Seamless integration with Calibre for library management
Multi-source search (Usenet, torrents, and book repositories)
Metadata & cover art fetching for organized collections
Support for multiple content formats (EPUB, MOBI, PDF, CBR/CBZ)

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is LazyLibrarian hard to install?

Docker deployment simplifies setup (one command to launch), while traditional Python installation requires installing dependencies like Python and libraries. Most users find Docker straightforward, and the GitHub repo provides step-by-step guides for both methods.

? Is it a good alternative to manual library management?

Yes—LazyLibrarian automates tracking, searching, and downloading, saving hours of manual effort. It integrates with Calibre to keep your collection organized, making it perfect for users with large libraries or those who want to reduce repetitive tasks.

? Is LazyLibrarian completely free?

Yes—LazyLibrarian is open source (MIT license) with no fees. You only cover costs for hosting (server/device) if using a dedicated setup; no subscription or paywalls exist for core features.

Top Alternatives

ComicRack (proprietary comic management tool) Search Google

Kindle (proprietary e-book platform with manual organization) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free/Open Source

Category Automation

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Privacy-focused (self-hosted, no third-party data sharing)
⊕ No subscription fees or hidden costs
⊕ Flexible deployment (Docker or Python)
⊕ Integrates with popular library tools like Calibre
⊕ Covers multiple content types (books, comics, magazines)

Cons

⊖ Requires a server/device to run continuously for automation
⊖ Some technical setup (especially non-Docker installations)
⊖ Download availability depends on external sources
⊖ Occasional configuration tweaks for optimal performance