Honestly, I’m personally not just after a self hosting solution, I’m mostly trying to replace US services and companies. As part of that, I’ve started using Jellyfin and I think it’s great but the book library part is a bit clunky.

I think I’ve got three use cases:

  • Research papers
  • Textbooks
  • Novels / Non-fiction

I’m okay with three separate setups for these too. I do listen to quite a few audiobooks but they’re currently independent and I’m happy to keep it that way. I’m happy to hear integrated solutions, or suggestions for an audio book library, but this post is focused on the above list.

The main device I’d do most of my reading on is an iPhone but I’d also be wanting to open up the research papers and textbooks on my MacBook. I’d want to be able to add research papers from the iPhone, or at least a light weight way to list them to quickly add later.

Note taking and highlighting isn’t an issue, I’ve started using markdown for this. Syncing how much of the book I’ve read is. Ideally between devices but on the one device would work too.

I figure I’ll have to drop some of my aims here but I thought I’d see if anyone knows of decent setups to try. Neither Jellyfin or Calibre seem amazing but maybe I could just configure them better.

Since there is a mandated image here I’m starting to wonder if I’m really in the wrong place, but I put textbook cover there

  • Peasley@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    1 day ago

    my wife has a Kobo reader and it’s a great alternative, from Canada. The reader works great with Calibre on desktop for books you already own, and the Kobo store is more or less equivalent to the Kindle store.

    I have no suggestion for getting files off an iPhone, but presumably an app exists to arbitrarily send files to desktop, and from there Calibre works.

    Kobo build quality is better than other e-readers, and it supports color and markups. Overall it’s pretty good for PDFs/textbooks and novels, but manga/comics can be a little goofy.

    I cant speak on the syncing since she has only the one device.

    Good luck!

    Edit: seems like you edited (or i misunderstood) the OP. Kobo (the device) works great with US library lending, but ymmv if you are in another country. If you use the kobo app on your phone it will sync your position with the device, but the app is pretty flawed on mobile and doesnt have a desktop version i’m aware of.

    I wouldnt mind using the app to read fiction, but it’s not great for reference material. I use a standalone pdf reader for that kind of thing on my phone, which obviously doesnt sync.

    • artifex@piefed.socialEnglish
      6·
      1 day ago

      I’ll second the kobo ecosystem but add that if you install the 3rd party koreader software on it it will make syncing to a local calibre-web seamless. And it leaves the stock reader software in place so you can read drm encrypted files if needed. I have a similar use case to yours where I use the device to read books but also papers, which I usually pdf and put in a specific shelf in calibre

    • DaCrazyJamez@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      1 day ago

      I had looked into Kobo, but ultimately Boox won out. Zero proprietary ecosystem, so I can use Calibre to manage everything.

      I need to do a bit more work, but totally worth it to be completely DRM free

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      5·
      2 days ago

      Two ways I like to get files to/from a mobile device: Syncthing (Möbius on iOS) or ResilioSync.

      Resilio has a great feature, Selective Sync, that enables arbitrarily syncing files from a remote location. Nice for grabbing specific files when needed.

      Unfortunately neither one handles any kind of reading status, they’re just file sync.