pyShelf

pyShelf is a lightweight ebook server designed to run without a desktop environment. It scans your library on disk and exposes a simple web interface for browsing, searching, and downloading ebooks.

Key Features

• Recursive scanning of folders to build a library index
• Automatic cover image aggregation
• Fuzzy search with optional query specifiers (for example tag, author, or title)
• Automated collections based on folder structure
• Download system for supported ebook files

Use Cases

• Self-host a personal ebook library on a headless server or homelab
• Create a simple shared library for a household or small group
• Quickly search and download ebooks from a large folder-based archive

Limitations and Considerations

• Supported formats are limited (notably epub and mobi)
• Several features are explicitly not yet implemented, such as access restrictions and OPDS support

pyShelf is a practical option if you want a minimal, Calibre-like ebook server experience without needing an X server. It focuses on fast library scanning, straightforward browsing, and lightweight operation.