Every book in Book Tracker belongs to exactly one of three sections: Library, Wishlist, or Not Owned. They have very specific meanings, and using them well makes the rest of the app (statistics, Smart Lists, the Reading Challenge) much more accurate.
Library
The books you own.
This is the default when you add a book. Hardback, paperback, eBook on your device, audiobook in your account. If it’s something you have access to as part of your collection, it goes in Library.
Library is what most people think of as “my collection”.
Wishlist
The books you want to acquire. Books you don’t have yet but plan to buy, borrow, or download in the future.
A Wishlist book is not in your library until you move it to Library or Not Owned.
Use Wishlist for:
- Books you’ve heard about and want to remember.
- Future birthday gifts or holiday reading.
- Series you plan to start once another volume is released.
Wishlist books are included the Home/Sidebar so you see them every time you open the app, or hide them entirely. See How to customize Book Tracker with Configurations.
Not Owned
Books you’ve read but don’t own a copy of. For example:
- Library loans you returned.
- A friend’s book you finished.
- An audiobook subscription title that left your account.
- A textbook you used at school.
Not Owned books are part of your reading history and count toward your statistics and Reading Challenge. The only thing they don’t do is live in your physical/digital collection.
This section keeps your Library tidy (no need to delete a book just because you returned it to the library) without losing the reading record.
A book can move between sections
A book’s section isn’t fixed. You can change it at any time:
- From the book detail page: tap the icon on the left of the Edit button and select Move to → pick the new one.
- From the book list: long press a book (or right-click on Mac) → Move to → pick the new one.
- In bulk: How to use Bulk Edit in Book Tracker can move many books at once.
Common patterns
| Situation | Where the book goes |
|---|---|
| You buy a book | Library |
| You finish reading a library loan and return it | Move from Library → Not Owned |
| You see a book recommended online and want to remember it | Wishlist |
| A Wishlist book finally arrives | Move from Wishlist → Library |
| You gave away a book but want to keep the reading record | Move to Not Owned |
| You’re tracking digital books you no longer have access to (e.g., a canceled Kindle Unlimited title) | Not Owned |