Start here.
Download the blank CSV and open it in your spreadsheet app. Each row represents one edition or owned copy. Keep loans and wishes clearly labeled so the sheet remains an honest map of what you can read.
Give each column one job
Title describes the work; source describes where it came from; location describes where you can open it. Keeping them separate makes filtering possible without complicated filenames.
Use the example as a pattern
The example download contains fictional records showing an owned EPUB, a reference PDF, and a borrowed title. Replace the rows with your own information. Do not place account passwords or private access tokens in the sheet.
Keep the sheet small enough to maintain
Start with title, author, ownership, source, and location. Fill additional details as you use the books. An incomplete but maintained inventory is more useful than a perfect template you stop opening.
The details, at a glance.
| Consider | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Identity | Title, author, edition, series |
| Access | Source, ownership, format, location |
| Reading | Status and completion date |
| Loans | Lender and due date where applicable |
A few things worth asking.
Does it work in Excel and Google Sheets?
The CSV can be imported by common spreadsheet apps. It contains plain data, not app-specific formulas.
Are the example books real?
The sample rows are fictional and illustrate the structure only.
Written by Binge Reader. Our comparisons explain documented workflows and practical tradeoffs; they are not independent product benchmarks.