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Calibredb by concertonotes — Agent Skill

Name: Calibredb
Rating: 4.666666666666667 (3 reviews)
Author: ConcertoNotes

Calibredb

Manage and query Calibre libraries with the calibredb CLI (local paths or Calibre Content server URLs). Use when listing books, searching/filtering library records, reading/updating metadata, adding/removing formats, exporting books, maintaining custom columns, running library checks, managing FTS indexing/search, or creating catalogs/backups from a Calibre library.

ConcertoNotes Updated Sep 8, 2026 0 repo stars

File contents

CalibreDB

Use this skill for all command-line operations on Calibre libraries.

Library path

Calibre library locations are user-specific. Identify the target library path or Content server URL before running commands.
Prefer explicit path in every command: --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY".
If the user has not provided a library path, ask for it or inspect the local environment for an existing Calibre library before proceeding.
For machine-readable outputs, use --for-machine or JSON-capable subcommands.

Safety model

Start with read-only operations, then escalate only when needed.

Read-only (safe by default)

list
search
show_metadata
custom_columns
list_categories
check_library
fts_search
fts_index status

Mutating (confirm intent for destructive/irreversible)

Usually safe with clear intent: add, set_metadata, set_custom, add_format, embed_metadata, backup_metadata
Confirm before destructive actions: remove, remove_format, remove_custom_column, restore_database, fts_index reindex on full library

Core workflow

Identify target library and set --with-library.
Discover relevant book IDs with search (or list --search).
Inspect records with show_metadata or list --for-machine.
Apply minimal required mutations.
Validate with follow-up list/search/show_metadata.

Quick command patterns

1) List books

export CALIBRE_LIBRARY="/path/to/Calibre Library"
calibredb list --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" --fields id,title,authors,formats --limit 20

Machine output:

calibredb list --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" --fields id,title,authors,tags,formats --for-machine

2) Search and get IDs

calibredb search --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" "title:python"

Use IDs in follow-up commands.

3) Show metadata

calibredb show_metadata --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" 123

As OPF:

calibredb show_metadata --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" --as-opf 123

4) Update metadata fields

calibredb set_metadata --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" 123 \
  --field title:"Example Book" \
  --field tags:"python,reference"

5) Add/export books

calibredb add --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" "/path/to/book.epub"
calibredb export --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" 123 --to-dir "/tmp/export"

6) Library health check

calibredb check_library --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY"

Content server usage

To target a running Calibre Content server:

calibredb list --with-library "http://hostname:8080/#library_id" --username <user> --password <pass>

From docs: use special #- library id to list server libraries.

Security note: --password is passed as a process argument and may be visible to other users on shared machines via process-listing tools. Prefer local or trusted hosts for authenticated Content server commands, and redact credentials from shell history, logs, and task transcripts.

Reference files

Command matrix + options: references/command-matrix.md
Safe operational playbooks: references/safe-workflows.md

---name: calibredbdescription: Manage and query Calibre libraries with the calibredb CLI (local paths or Calibre Content server URLs). Use when listing books, searching/filtering library records, reading/updating metadata, adding/removing formats, exporting books, maintaining custom columns, running library checks, managing FTS indexing/search, or creating catalogs/backups from a Calibre library.license: MIT---# CalibreDBUse this skill for all command-line operations on Calibre libraries.## Library path- Calibre library locations are user-specific. Identify the target library path or Content server URL before running commands.- Prefer explicit path in every command: `--with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY"`.- If the user has not provided a library path, ask for it or inspect the local environment for an existing Calibre library before proceeding.- For machine-readable outputs, use `--for-machine` or JSON-capable subcommands.## Safety modelStart with read-only operations, then escalate only when needed.### Read-only (safe by default)- `list`- `search`- `show_metadata`- `custom_columns`- `list_categories`- `check_library`- `fts_search`- `fts_index status`### Mutating (confirm intent for destructive/irreversible)- Usually safe with clear intent: `add`, `set_metadata`, `set_custom`, `add_format`, `embed_metadata`, `backup_metadata`- Confirm before destructive actions: `remove`, `remove_format`, `remove_custom_column`, `restore_database`, `fts_index reindex` on full library## Core workflow1. Identify target library and set `--with-library`.2. Discover relevant book IDs with `search` (or `list --search`).3. Inspect records with `show_metadata` or `list --for-machine`.4. Apply minimal required mutations.5. Validate with follow-up `list/search/show_metadata`.## Quick command patterns### 1) List books```bashexport CALIBRE_LIBRARY="/path/to/Calibre Library"calibredb list --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" --fields id,title,authors,formats --limit 20```Machine output:```bashcalibredb list --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" --fields id,title,authors,tags,formats --for-machine```### 2) Search and get IDs```bashcalibredb search --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" "title:python"```Use IDs in follow-up commands.### 3) Show metadata```bashcalibredb show_metadata --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" 123```As OPF:```bashcalibredb show_metadata --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" --as-opf 123```### 4) Update metadata fields```bashcalibredb set_metadata --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" 123 \ --field title:"Example Book" \ --field tags:"python,reference"```### 5) Add/export books```bashcalibredb add --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" "/path/to/book.epub"calibredb export --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY" 123 --to-dir "/tmp/export"```### 6) Library health check```bashcalibredb check_library --with-library "$CALIBRE_LIBRARY"```## Content server usageTo target a running Calibre Content server:```bashcalibredb list --with-library "http://hostname:8080/#library_id" --username <user> --password <pass>```From docs: use special `#-` library id to list server libraries.Security note: `--password` is passed as a process argument and may be visibleto other users on shared machines via process-listing tools. Prefer local ortrusted hosts for authenticated Content server commands, and redact credentialsfrom shell history, logs, and task transcripts.## Reference files- Command matrix + options: `references/command-matrix.md`- Safe operational playbooks: `references/safe-workflows.md`

Frequently asked questions