Using Anchorline as a Book Library Tracker
Track owned books, wishlist, reading status, ratings, and loans
Anchorline helps you keep a clear record of the books you own and what you want to read. Books can move between lists like Owned, Reading, Finished, Wishlist, and Loaned Out without creating duplicates. Add ratings, notes, and loan details so you can find what you want and avoid buying the same book twice.
Built-in book tracker preset
Anchorline includes a built-in Book Tracker preset that helps you track the books you own, what you are reading, what you finished, and which books are loaned out. It includes default fields for authors, formats, ratings, dates, and loans.
The preset is optional. You can start with it, modify it, or ignore it entirely and build your own structure from scratch.
How it's structured
Workspace Shape
What you track
Books owned, wishlist, reading status, ratings, loans
Structure
Books as items, collection logs for status (Owned, Reading, Finished, Wishlist)
Fields
How you work with it
Add books to Owned
- Catalog of what you have
Move to Currently Reading
- Same item, different view
Finish and rate
- Link to Finished, add rating and notes
Lend a book
- Track who has it without losing the item
Frequently asked questions
- Is Anchorline just another Goodreads alternative?
- No. Anchorline is not a social reading platform. It does not focus on discovery feeds, reviews from strangers, or recommendations. It is a personal system for tracking the books you own, want to read, are reading, or have finished.
- What problem does this solve that Goodreads does not?
- Goodreads is optimized for browsing and reviews. Anchorline is optimized for keeping track of your own books and reading plans. It helps when your to-read list keeps growing, books move between states, or you want a clear, chronological view without social noise.
- Can I keep a real TBR list instead of an endless pile?
- Yes. Books can live in a Wishlist or To Read collection and be ordered however you want. When you start reading, the same book can move into a Reading list without duplication. The list reflects what is next, not just what exists.
- How is this different from StoryGraph or similar apps?
- Apps like StoryGraph focus on ratings, statistics, and recommendation engines. Anchorline focuses on ownership, reading state, and simple organization. There are no prompts, quizzes, or social features competing for attention.
- Do I have to rate or review every book?
- No. Ratings and notes are optional. Some people track ratings. Others only care about what they read and when. The system does not require opinions to be useful.
- Can I track loaned books and who has them?
- Yes. Books can be marked as loaned out with a record of who borrowed them and when. This keeps the book part of your library instead of disappearing into memory.
- Can the same book appear in multiple lists?
- Yes. A book can belong to multiple collections such as Owned, Reading, or Loaned Out without being duplicated. Lists represent state, not separate copies.
- Is this useful if I only track a small number of books?
- Yes. Some people track hundreds of books. Others track a short reading list. Anchorline does not assume scale or force structure beyond what you want.
- How long does it take to set up?
- You can start small. Many people begin with their current reads or upcoming list and add older books over time. The system is designed for gradual use, not a one-time data import.
- Can I share my book library publicly?
- Yes. You can make a collection public and share a simple read-only view of your library or specific lists. Public sharing is optional and off by default.
- Can I export my data?
- Yes. You can export your book library for backup or personal records. Your data is not locked in.