Libib → Literal
Move your Libib library to Literal
Libib is built for cataloguing personal libraries. Literal is built for the reading life. Here's how to bring your books across.
Libib and Literal solve different problems
Libib is excellent at cataloguing physical media — books, films, music, video games, all in one place. If you have 3,000 books in a home library and want a barcode-scan-driven inventory, Libib is the right tool.
Literal is for the reading life: tracking what you\'re reading, reviews, ratings, social discovery, and book clubs. Different jobs, different products. Many readers run Libib for the catalogue and Literal for the reading log — but if you want to consolidate, here\'s the path.
How to bring your library across
- 1
Export your Libib catalogue as CSV
In Libib: Settings → Backup → Export to CSV. You\'ll get a file containing all books in your library with title, author, ISBN, and any tags or notes. - 2
Import the CSV into Goodreads
Use Goodreads\' CSV import tool to land your Libib library on a Goodreads profile. ISBN matching is the most reliable column — Goodreads will use it to find the right edition. - 3
Run Literal's Goodreads importer
Point Literal\'s Goodreads importer at your Goodreads profile. Books, shelves, ratings, and reviews come across. - 4
Decide whether to keep Libib running
For physical-library cataloguing (where things are, condition, ISBNs) Libib is hard to beat. Many users keep it for that and use Literal for the reading-life side.
What Literal adds on top of a catalogue
Reading states
Want to read, currently reading, finished, dropped — proper reading lifecycle, not just inventory.
Reviews
Full reviews with ratings, attached to the book and visible to people who follow you.
Reading goals
Annual reading targets with progress tracking, plus a year in books recap.
Book clubs
Public and private clubs with reading schedules and discussion.
Social feed
Follow readers whose taste you trust and see what they're reading.
Native apps
iOS and Android with real-time sync, dark mode, and fast search.
Frequently asked questions
- Will my Libib tags become Literal shelves?
- If they survive the Libib → Goodreads → Literal chain, yes. Goodreads accepts tags as bookshelves on CSV import, and Literal preserves Goodreads bookshelves on its own import.
- What about Libib's loan tracking and library-card features?
- Literal doesn't have those — we're not a personal-library cataloguing tool. If those features matter, keep Libib running for them.
- Will you build a direct Libib importer?
- The user demand to move from Libib hasn't been high enough to prioritise it. The Goodreads bridge handles the cases we see.
- Can I import films, music, and other media too?
- No — Literal is books-only. If you want a unified catalogue across media, Libib remains the right tool for that.
