Still No Ebook Reader after YEARS

[Gilgamesh_48 1240]

For me this feature just needs to be more "basic." 
All I really need is the ability to read and display, with just a few options like font size, txt files. The ability to display pdfs and docs would be somewhat nice but, for me, mostly unnecessary. All my books and documents, with few exceptions, are in txt formats.

However I understand that my needs do not match other's and therefore I should not ask for what I think I need if it takes away from the core development and maintenance at all. That is eBooks and txt and doc and pdf files should be supported outside Emby or, at most, by a plugin. The main code of Emby should not be burdened with the task of supporting a very limited use function like displaying books on a TV screen.

There are already numerous diverse programs that do that very well and it is unnecessary for Emby to leap into that dogpile.

I am not saying that no one would use Emby to read books I am saying that I believe that the use case is so miniscule the it does not make sense for Emby to support "books" in any form. I used to want Emby to handle audiobooks but I have found that there are so many really good to great programs, for virtually every platform, that handle audiobooks very very well that even that is redundant at best. 

There is a understandable desire for a "one program" solution for everything but it is VERY unlikely that a program trying to everything well will also succeed in doing everything well. 

But, as is always the case, Emby will do what Emby wants to do and the only opinion that matters is Emby's. I just hope Emby does not introduce apparently unrelated bugs as they try to become:

"The one program to rule them all
"The one program to find them
"And in the darkness bind them 
"In the land of TV where all the darkness lies.

 

[Houfino 41]

I am using Kavita..I am satisfied

Edited December 27, 2023 by Houfino

[Bingegang 3]

I just came to ask if there's any progress with ebook reader? Is there anybody working on it? Thanks. I would really like to know

[Houfino 41]

23 minutes ago, Bingegang said:

I just came to ask if there's any progress with ebook reader? Is there anybody working on it? Thanks. I would really like to know

No...Admin doesn't want to make a book for emby for several years...

the best program is Kavita

Kavita

 

[rguinn829 1]

On 1/6/2024 at 10:49 AM, Houfino said:

No...Admin doesn't want to make a book for emby for several years...

the best program is Kavita

Kavita

 

This is not ture if you read above they have on in the works but its low prority as they are working on a other items. I using Jellyfin and Kavita but would love to dump them for emby solution for a one app experance and reduce my server overhead

[Houfino 41]

On 1/15/2024 at 10:38 PM, rguinn829 said:

This is not ture if you read above they have on in the works but its low prority as they are working on a other items. I using Jellyfin and Kavita but would love to dump them for emby solution for a one app experance and reduce my server overhead

Unfortunately true

I will explain you simple..If it has a low value, then the admin should have worked normally for Emby because of the book.....I don't care anyway..I'm glad I have a kavity and I'm satisfied 100% :-)...

 

 

 

 

Edited January 21, 2024 by Houfino

[Daniel R. Mebs 6]

Can any developer tell me if there is any chance of adding the feature in the near future?

[Luke 42077]

HI, yes more development with books is planned for future updates. Thanks.

[Drkanf 1]

Commenting to be kept informed off this much apreciated evolution to this AWESOME Media Server  

[Nostradamus1973 25]

Good morning Everyone,

I wish I read that this feature is just here for looks, kinda like nipples on a (genetic)male; I gotta say they look great sitting in my library, I just can't sample what's inside. lol

Luckily I'm running JF, and I can hop over there if I need to read something.

Personally, I love Emby and it would be my pageant pick every year, but, not having this feature when JF does, leaves an open,  and easy hole to exploit from competitors by pointing this out. Given that something like a PDF reader is probably simple compared to the many intricate complexities that Emby currently handles already, it just takes away from that "Ready to Go" feel. I know the Emby Team works very hard and puts foot-to-buns when needed, and I'm well aware of how triage works, but, it would be nice to lock this down.
 

Plus, having this feature may bring a completely new class of Emby users, I know lots of people that prefer books over moving pictures.

Thanks for hearing me out, have a nice day everyone.

[tonyleonx 2]

I would really love to have this feature implement as well.

I am a teacher and sometimes usb drives fail, or there is no way for me to access my files. Having the ability to access and view at least a few of the reading formats would be great. I recently started paying the monthly sub for the duration of Summer, but will get the Lifetime once I fully understand how Emby works (I still can't access it from outside the network but that's something I can figure out later). Once there is support to read eBooks, I can then proceed with other configurations. Thank you to everyone working on this.

[JohnnyTai 5]

On 31/07/2024 at 07:31, tonyleonx said:

I would really love to have this feature implement as well.

I am a teacher and sometimes usb drives fail, or there is no way for me to access my files. Having the ability to access and view at least a few of the reading formats would be great. I recently started paying the monthly sub for the duration of Summer, but will get the Lifetime once I fully understand how Emby works (I still can't access it from outside the network but that's something I can figure out later). Once there is support to read eBooks, I can then proceed with other configurations. Thank you to everyone working on this.

To access outside of network, you need port forwarding or a reverse proxy if you want more advance things

[_amg29 2]

would really love for emby to have this as well

[rockinyp 6]

Another +1 for native ebook/PDF integration.

[Paul_Hargreaves 0]

+1 for eBook, Comic, Audio book integration

[Luke 42077]

There is now an OpenLibrary plugin in the Emby Plugin catalog for books, and it supports ISBN lookup.

Please try it out and report your experience. Thanks !

[Lonald 10]

Hi Luke,

I'm not sure what the plugin does.  I don't see any changes after installation and reboot.  I'm currently on v4.8.11.0 Windows.  I have a few books downloaded in .epub format.

There is an identify function that provides a list of similar titles.  When I select one, nothing changes in the library.

In particular, I don't see a field for ISBN.

Good to see attention to this, however!!!

[Lonald 10]

I found the answer on another thread - awaiting the server update.

[Luke 42077]

An update to the Emby Open Library plugin has gone out to support lookups using either ISBN or the Open Library Work Id. The Work Id should help make matching easier, although you can still lookup using ISBN. Here is clarification on the differences between Open Library works and editions:

https://openlibrary.org/help/faq/editing#work-edition

[Luke 42077]

Emby Server 4.9.1.8+ will now have a book reader in the web app for the following formats:

• EPUB
• MOBI
• FB2
• CBZ
• PDF

Please try it out once available and report your experience in the Testing Area of the community:

Thanks !

[Nostradamus1973 25]

10 hours ago, Luke said:

Emby Server 4.9.1.8+ will now have a book reader in the web app for the following formats:

• EPUB
• MOBI
• FB2
• CBZ
• PDF

Please try it out once available and report your experience in the Testing Area of the community:

Thanks !

Good morning Everyone 

@LukeAre you trying to say that after years of begging you to get an eBook reader on all of the emby client apps, you only have it only on the webui?
 

So, should we wait another 5 years for the Android client? Maybe another 5 after that for AppleTV? Maybe Roku in 15 years?

Personally, I'm not sure what's been going on with emby development lately, the speed, quality, and drive have all taken a serious dip for the worse over the last 5 years. Simple things like being stuck in a Beta program for more than a year without any end in site; and on a side note, I'm simply confused about the nomenclature for "4.9.1.8 Beta." Things like no support for the Intel ARC B580 that's been out since 2024 are a few things that are "Top of Mind" for me, and I'm sure other members could chime in and add many more things that have just taken a shift for the worse, but, that's not what this is about, this is me trying to add some constructive criticism.

This isn't some breakup note, it's a plead to get back to basics, DUMP the AI responses that actually tick everyone off when they realize they're being duped and speaking to an AI Luke, having an AI pretend to be you isn't cool, it's fake and quite upsetting to the person being fooled.
You and the team are a very talented group of individuals, but, something has changed. I'm not going to tell you how to run your house by saying you need more help, this is an honest critique from your patron who has been with you since 2019.

Thank you for hearing me out.

Sorry, I needed to get that out, Have a great day,

Edited July 20, 2025 by Nostradamus1973