Overview
ZotShelf extracts covers from the EPUBs in your Zotero library and displays them in a beautiful, browsable grid. Quickly see your entire digital book collection at a glance and access your books with a single tap.
The app is currently in closed beta testing. Contact me if you would like to test it at appbugge@gmail.com
Key Features
See all your EPUB books at a glance with beautiful cover art arranged in a grid layout, just like browsing a physical bookshelf.
Filter books by your Zotero collections to quickly find exactly what you’re looking for in your organized library.
Tap any cover to open the book directly in your Zotero Web Library reader, no need to search through your collection.
Pull down to refresh your bookshelf and get the latest books from your Zotero account instantly.
Add your bookshelf directly to your Android home screen for even quicker access to your favorite books.
Choose how you want to display book information: title only, author only, or author and title.
See ZotShelf in Action
How It Works
Set up your Zotero credentials - Enter your Zotero username, user ID, and API key in the app settings.
Connect to your library - ZotShelf securely connects to your Zotero account and finds all your EPUB books.
Extract covers - The app automatically extracts cover art from each EPUB file in your library.
Browse your collection - Explore your digital bookshelf, filter by collections, and tap any cover to start reading.
Stay updated - Pull down to refresh whenever you add new books to your Zotero library.
Getting Started
To use ZotShelf, you’ll need:
- An Android device running Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer
- A Zotero account with EPUB books in your library
- Your Zotero API key, username and User ID (available at https://www.zotero.org/settings/keys)
Technical Details
ZotShelf is built using native Android technologies with a focus on performance and reliability:
- Java-based Android application with modern architecture patterns
- Retrofit and OkHttp for efficient API communication with Zotero
- Room Database for local caching of book covers and metadata
- RecyclerView with GridLayoutManager for smooth scrolling performance
- SwipeRefreshLayout for intuitive pull-to-refresh functionality
- Glide for efficient image loading and caching
- Material Design components for a clean, modern UI
- Home screen widget for quick access to your books
- Offline mode for viewing your collection without an internet connection
Open Source
ZotShelf is completely open source under the MIT License. You can find the source code, contribute, or report issues on GitHub:
Support the Project
If you find ZotShelf useful, consider:
- Starring the project on GitHub
- Reporting bugs or suggesting features
- Contributing code improvements
- Buying me a coffee