calibre-mcp
The calibre-mcp server connects AI assistants to your Calibre ebook library, enabling natural-language search, reading, curation, and management — including meaning-based semantic search.
Discovery & Search
Search books by title, author, ISBN, tag, or Calibre query syntax (metadata or full-text), scoped to the whole library or a single book.
Semantic search with hybrid vector + keyword retrieval, multilingual support (EN/RU), figure caption search, reranking, and confidence scoring.
List available libraries and browse categories (authors, tags, series, publishers, languages) with counts.
Reading & Content
Get full book metadata including authors, ISBN, formats, cover, comments, custom fields, and embedded cover images.
Read book text as paginated excerpts with cursor navigation, chapter maps, and jump-to-offset support.
View and fetch figures/illustrations with captions, rendered in-chat in supported clients.
Curation & Quality
Find duplicate books with merge-safety scoring and field-by-field diffs.
Run quality audits for missing metadata, raw-filename titles, invalid ISBNs, author-sort mismatches, and series gaps.
Recover missing metadata via Open Library and Google Books lookups (preview-only).
Editing (Opt-in, Gated)
Update single-book metadata including custom columns; bulk-edit with preview-first safety.
Import books from whitelisted local folders; permanently remove books (dry-run by default).
Merge duplicates safely — moves formats, merges metadata, trashes sources with a preview plan.
Extract ISBNs from a book's text and set them as identifiers.
Manage topical bundles via Calibre saved searches.
Semantic Indexing
Build and maintain a local semantic index for selected books (hybrid vector + keyword or keyword-only, no ML required).
Utilities
Health-check connectivity to the Calibre Content Server and verify semantic search status.
Companion skills: distill single books or synthesize topics across multiple books into structured skills.
Interactive in-chat UI (cover carousels, book cards, figure viewer) on MCP Apps hosts like Claude Desktop.
Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@calibre-mcpsearch my library for books about climate change"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
📚 calibre-mcp
The most capable Calibre MCP server in existence — connect Claude (or any MCP client) to your Calibre ebook library and search it by meaning, not just keywords.
Ask your AI assistant “which of my books explain consumer-group rebalancing?” and get the exact chapter — across 800+ books or inside one. Curate metadata, dedupe, and safely edit your library, all through natural language.
✨ Highlights
19 tools covering the full surface: search, read content, browse categories, curate, and (opt-in) write — update metadata, bulk-edit, merge duplicates, import, delete, and manage bundles (named topical filters).
Semantic search — meaning-based, hybrid vector + keyword retrieval over your whole library or inside a single book. Multilingual (English + Russian verified, cross-lingual queries work). No other Calibre MCP server has this.
In-chat UI (MCP Apps) — in hosts that support MCP Apps (Claude Desktop), library searches render an interactive cover carousel,
calibre_get_booka book detail card with cover, rating, and read/similar actions, andcalibre_get_figuresa figure viewer that shows you the same diagrams the assistant fetched. Text-only hosts are unaffected.Curation tools — find duplicates with merge-safety scoring, audit metadata quality, and recover real metadata for books with raw filenames (
795731065.pdf→ Fundamentals of Software Engineering) via Open Library / Google Books.Safe by default — read-only unless you explicitly enable writes; destructive operations preview first and require confirmation; all writes route through the Content Server so they never race the Calibre GUI.
Related MCP server: access-calibre
📋 Requirements
Calibre with the Content Server running (in Calibre: Connect/share → Start Content server). Tested against Calibre 9.x; any recent version should work.
Node.js ≥ 22.5 for the npm/npx install (not needed for the Claude Desktop one-click bundle — Desktop ships its own runtime).
Optional, for best PDF text extraction: poppler's
pdftotext(brew install poppler) or Python 3 with PyMuPDF (pip install pymupdf). Without them the server falls back to Calibre'sebook-convert.
🚀 Quick start
Easiest — let your agent install it for you
Grab the guided-installer skill and hand the whole job to your agent:
npx skills@latest add caelum29/calibre-mcp # pick calibre-mcp-setupThen tell your agent: "set up calibre-mcp". The calibre-mcp-setup skill drives
everything below — preflight (Node, calibredb, Content Server), the Calibre-side
config, the right install for your client (macOS/Windows/Linux), and a calibre_ping
verification — asking you only the questions that are yours to answer (which client,
writes on/off). Works in any Agent-Skills-compatible harness (Claude Code, Copilot,
Amp, …). Prefer doing it by hand? Pick your client below.
Claude Code
MCP server only:
claude mcp add calibre -- npx -y calibre-mcpOr install the plugin — server and the companion skills in one step, with a settings dialog (server URL, library, write gate) at install time:
/plugin marketplace add caelum29/calibre-mcp
/plugin install calibre-mcp@caelum29Claude Desktop (one-click)
Download the .mcpb bundle from the
latest release and open it —
Claude Desktop installs it and prompts for settings (server URL, library, writes on/off).
No terminal needed.
About the install warning. Claude Desktop shows “Installing will grant this extension access to everything on your computer… developer information has not been verified by Anthropic” for every extension installed from a file rather than the built-in directory — it’s not specific to this one. The server runs as a local Node process under your user account, exactly like the
npxinstall below; the bundle is built and published by CI from this repository, so you can audit what you’re running. Click Install to proceed.
The bundle ships without the optional embeddings dependency to stay small, so the two semantic-search tools report themselves unavailable. Metadata and full-text search work fully. For semantic search, use the npx install below instead.
Claude Desktop (JSON config)
Add to claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"calibre": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "calibre-mcp"]
}
}
}Cowork
Configure the server in Claude Desktop (either method above) — Desktop bridges local MCP servers into Cowork automatically. No extra setup.
Skills only — any agent (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, …)
The repo's Agent Skills — a guided installer (calibre-mcp-setup), the calibre-mcp usage
guide, and the two distill skills — install into any Agent-Skills-compatible harness with
the skills.sh installer:
npx skills@latest add caelum29/calibre-mcpPick the skills and target agents interactively. Two philosophies, same as
mattpocock/skills: skills.sh copies the files
into your setup so you can hack on them; the Claude Code plugin (above) keeps them as a
managed, auto-updating bundle. Either way the skills drive this MCP server's tools, so
install the server too — or let the calibre-mcp-setup skill do it: it walks any agent
through preflight, per-client install (macOS/Windows/Linux), and verification.
First contact — a five-prompt tour
The server auto-detects your default library; if the Content Server isn’t reachable it logs an actionable hint to stderr. Then try, in order:
“list my calibre libraries” — connectivity sanity check.
“find books about Rust” — metadata search; in Claude Desktop the results render as the cover carousel above.
“show me The Rust Programming Language” — full metadata; renders as a book card with cover, rating, and per-format read buttons.
“show me figure 2.3 from the JWT Handbook” — the figure arrives as an image for the assistant and, in Claude Desktop, in a figure viewer you can zoom and pan. If the first description doesn’t match what you see, ask “look at the image — what does it actually show?”: models sometimes answer figure questions from memory before reading the pixels (the tool result nudges them to look; see Troubleshooting).
“build the semantic index for my Kafka books” — one-time prep for meaning-based search (see below).
“which of my books explain consumer-group rebalancing?” — semantic search; answers with ranked books, or exact passages when scoped to one book.
Bonus: “what’s wrong with my library?” runs the quality audit (missing metadata, raw-filename titles, invalid ISBNs).
✍️ Enabling writes
Write tools (calibre_update_book, calibre_bulk_update, calibre_add_book,
calibre_remove_book, calibre_merge_books, calibre_manage_bundles) are hidden by
default — including calibre_manage_bundles' read-only list action, since the gate works
per tool, not per action. Two independent switches must be on:
The MCP-side gate — set
CALIBRE_MCP_ENABLE_WRITE=1(or tick Enable writes in the Desktop bundle settings). Without it the write tools aren’t even registered.The Calibre-side gate — the Content Server must allow local writes. By default the server embedded in the Calibre GUI is read-only, so either enable the GUI option below or run a standalone server with
--enable-local-write:# quit the Calibre GUI first (it holds the library lock), then: calibre-server --enable-local-write --port 8080 "/path/to/Calibre Library"Or enable it on the GUI-embedded server without quitting the app: open Calibre → Preferences → Sharing over the net → Advanced and tick “Allow un-authenticated local connections to make changes to the library” (i.e. permit local write access), then restart the Content Server from the GUI. This is the
--enable-local-writeequivalent for the embedded server.
With only the first switch on, write tools appear but Calibre refuses the write — the error message tells you exactly that. Reads work fine against the GUI-embedded server.
Safety behavior: calibre_bulk_update requires an explicit book selection (ids or
query — there is no “all books” default) and previews changes until you pass
preview: false. calibre_remove_book is a dry-run until you pass confirm: true;
deletion removes records and files, permanently. calibre_merge_books shows its full
merge plan until you pass confirm: true, and trashed sources stay recoverable from
Calibre's trash (mode safe keeps them entirely). calibre_add_book only imports files
from whitelisted folders (CALIBRE_MCP_ADD_ROOTS).
🔎 Semantic search
Deep dive:
docs/SEMANTIC-SEARCH.md— how indexing, hybrid retrieval, and reranking work.
Meaning-based search is opt-in and needs two things:
The embeddings dependency —
@huggingface/transformersis anoptionalDependenciesentry, so a normalnpx calibre-mcp/npm installgets it automatically. (Only the MCPB bundle excludes it.)An index — ask Claude to run
calibre_build_indexfor the books you care about (by ids or a Calibre query). The first build downloads the embedding model (multilingual-e5-small, ~118 MB, one-time) into the index directory; after that everything runs offline. Indexing runs at roughly 100 chunks/sec on Apple Silicon.
Search results are sharpened by a cross-encoder reranker whose model is a separate
~576 MB one-time download. calibre_build_index pre-downloads it during the build —
the step you already expect to be slow. If you skip straight to searching on a machine
without the cached model, your first hybrid/vector search triggers that download
instead. Reranking also adds seconds of CPU per semantic search; set
CALIBRE_MCP_RERANK=off to disable it (faster, noticeably less precise ranking).
Then calibre_semantic_search answers queries like “which of my books explain consumer
group rebalancing?” — across the library (scope: library, ranks books) or within one
book (scope: book, returns located passages). Retrieval is hybrid by default:
vector cosine + stemmed keyword FTS, fused with reciprocal rank fusion, then reranked by
the cross-encoder (top 30 candidates) when its model is available. Queries in one
language find passages in another (EN⇄RU verified).
No embeddings? Keyword search still works. mode: keyword uses no model at query
time, but it needs an index. If the embedding model isn’t installed (the default MCPB
bundle ships without it), build a keyword-only index — calibre_build_index with
keywordOnly: true, or it happens automatically when the model is absent — and search with
mode: keyword. That path has zero ML dependencies. mode: vector then errors actionably
and mode: hybrid degrades to keyword (with a note); rebuild with the model installed
(force: true) to add semantic ranking.
🧰 Tools
Full reference with parameters and examples:
docs/TOOLS.md.
Tool | Access | What it does |
| read | Find books by title/author/ISBN/tag or Calibre query syntax ( |
| read | Full metadata, formats, and cover link for one book (id or uuid); |
| read | Read a book’s text as capped excerpts; walk the whole book via cursor. |
| read | List a book’s figures/illustrations with captions and page locations; fetched ones render in an in-chat figure viewer |
| read | Browse tags, authors, series, publishers, custom columns with counts |
| read | List the libraries the Content Server exposes (+ which is default) |
| read | Meaning-based search; |
| read* | Build/refresh the local semantic index for selected books (writes only a local index file); |
| read | Duplicate groups with merge-safety scores; |
| read | Audit: missing metadata, raw-filename titles, invalid ISBNs, author-sort issues, series gaps |
| read | Propose real metadata via Open Library → Google Books; preview-only, apply with |
| write | Scan a book’s own text for a valid ISBN and set its |
| write | Set metadata fields on one book (incl. |
| write | Same change across a set of books; selection required, preview-first |
| write | Import a local ebook file (path-whitelisted) |
| write, destructive | Permanently delete books (records + files); dry-run unless confirmed |
| write, destructive | Merge duplicate records: move formats into a target, merge metadata per Calibre's rules, trash sources; dry-run plan unless confirmed |
| write | List/create/update/delete Bundles — named topical filters backed by Calibre saved searches; |
| read | Health check: is Calibre reachable end-to-end? |
* Figures reach the assistant as real images, but models sometimes describe a figure from memory before looking at it — if the first description doesn’t match the picture, re-ask with “look at the image — what does it actually show?” (details in Troubleshooting).
In MCP Apps hosts, calibre_search and calibre_semantic_search (library scope) render
their results as a cover-board carousel, calibre_get_book as a book card, and
calibre_get_figures as a figure viewer (reading pane + margin rail, click to zoom to 100%)
so you see the diagrams the assistant is reading — covers load from your local Content
Server. Everywhere else the same tools return their usual text results; no configuration
needed either way.
📚 Companion skill: calibre-distill
An Agent Skill that distills a book from your library into a reusable, structured skill
(frameworks, mental models, glossary, cheatsheet) by driving the tools above — the chapter
map (calibre_get_content structure=true) plus in-book keyword + semantic search. Works on
EN and RU/UK books, no temp files, and can optionally stamp what you learned back into the
catalog (tags + a distill note) through the gated write tools.
It ships in this repo at skills/calibre-distill/. Install it
via npx skills@latest add caelum29/calibre-mcp or the Claude Code plugin (see
Quick start), or manually by symlinking:
ln -s "$PWD/skills/calibre-distill" ~/.claude/skills/calibre-distillThen ask, e.g., “distill book 187 into a skill called kafka-ops”. Note: the MCPB bundle can’t ship skills — install the skills separately from the MCP server on Claude Desktop.
Companion skill: calibre-distill-topic
A sibling skill that synthesizes one topic across several books (≥3) into a single
concept-keyed skill — a decision framework, per-concept sections, a cross-source config
table, an explicit “where the sources disagree or complement” section, and an ISBN
bibliography that doubles as a live-source binding. Use it when you want a topic study aid
built from a shelf of books rather than a single-book distill (single-book requests belong
to calibre-distill). Ships at skills/calibre-distill-topic/;
installed by the same skills.sh / plugin / symlink paths as above.
Then ask, e.g., “synthesize kafka reliability from books 187 182 571 186 into a skill.”
Generated skills can be checked with the bundled verifier — verbatim-overlap (8-gram shingles vs the source books), quote budget, compression floor, heading mirroring, cursor leaks, and attribution:
pnpm build && node scripts/legal-gate.mjs <skill-dir> --book <id> [--book <id>…]⚙️ Configuration
Everything is optional — with a running Content Server on the default port, zero config works. Environment variables (the Desktop bundle exposes the same settings as UI fields):
Variable | Default | Purpose |
|
| Calibre Content Server base URL |
| auto-detect | Library name; empty = the server’s default library |
| off | Master write gate ( |
| auto-discover |
|
| platform data dir¹ | Semantic index + embedding-model cache |
|
| Cosine score below which semantic results are flagged low-confidence |
| on | Cross-encoder rerank stage on semantic search (~576 MB model, seconds of CPU per query); set |
|
| Largest book download |
|
| Folders |
|
| Search-results widget style in MCP Apps hosts: |
¹ macOS ~/Library/Application Support/calibre-mcp/index, Windows
%APPDATA%\calibre-mcp\index, Linux $XDG_DATA_HOME/calibre-mcp/index.
² Size the cap against what the Content Server serves, not the file on disk — it can hand back a much heavier copy (an 8 MB PDF served as 70 MB), so a disk-sized cap silently skips books.
🩺 Troubleshooting
More symptoms and fixes:
docs/TROUBLESHOOTING.md.
“Calibre unreachable” / connection refused — the Content Server isn’t running. In Calibre: Connect/share → Start Content server, or point
CALIBRE_MCP_SERVER_URLat the right host/port.Write refused / “Forbidden” — the Content Server doesn’t allow local writes. See Enabling writes above: run a standalone server with
--enable-local-write, or tick the GUI’s Sharing over the net → Advanced option and restart the Content Server.Full-text search returns nothing / errors — Calibre’s FTS index isn’t enabled for the library. In Calibre: Preferences → Searching → Full text search, enable it, and let indexing finish (it can take a while on large libraries).
“embedding model unavailable” — the optional
@huggingface/transformerspackage isn’t installed (expected with the MCPB bundle). Use the npx install, ornpm install @huggingface/transformersnext to the server. To search without it, build a keyword-only index (calibre_build_index keywordOnly=true) and usemode: keyword.calibredbnot found — install Calibre, or setCALIBRE_MCP_CALIBREDB_PATHto the binary (macOS:/Applications/calibre.app/Contents/MacOS/calibredb).A PDF extracts to empty text — it’s a scanned/image PDF; Calibre has no OCR, and neither do we.
Library not found (404) — pass the library’s display name or ID as shown by
calibre_list_libraries; when in doubt, leave the library unset and let the server pick its default.
🛠️ Development
pnpm install
pnpm build # tsc → dist/
pnpm test # vitest (unit; no network, no model download)
pnpm test:model # gated embedding-model integration tests (~118 MB download)
pnpm inspect # MCP Inspector against the built server
pnpm pack:mcpb # build the Claude Desktop .mcpb bundleThe codebase is Clean Architecture: tool handlers, Calibre clients, and the semantic
core are SDK-free; only src/server.ts touches the MCP SDK. User docs — the tool
reference and the semantic-search guide — live in docs/.
Questions, ideas, and setups welcome in Discussions; bug reports and PRs in Issues.
📄 License
MIT © 2026 Artem Sorochynskyi
An independent project, not affiliated with Calibre.
Calibre itself is
Kovid Goyal's open-source project (GPLv3) —
this server drives it as a separate program via calibredb and the Content Server.
Available Tools
14 toolscalibre_board_dataCover board data (widget-internal)ARead-only
Internal endpoint for the in-chat cover-board widget. Returns the cached payload of a recent search. Do not call as the model — search results already contain everything this returns.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| tool | No | ||
| query | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| kind | No | |
| tool | No | |
| books | No | |
| query | No | |
| total | No | |
| libraryId | No | |
| serverUrl | No | |
| lowConfidence | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true. The description adds that the tool returns cached data and is internal, but does not elaborate on behavior if called. Overall, it is transparent about its nature and limitations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two sentences, front-loaded with key information, no unnecessary words. Extremely concise and clear.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's low complexity and presence of an output schema, the description is complete about its internal nature and usage guidance. Minor improvement could be noting that parameters are for internal widget consumption.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The input schema has 2 parameters with 0% description coverage. The description does not explain the parameters' meaning or usage, leaving them opaque. For a tool that should not be called, this is acceptable but still leaves the agent uninformed.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states it is an internal endpoint for the in-chat cover-board widget, returning cached payoff of a recent search. It distinguishes itself from sibling tools by explicitly indicating it should not be called.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Explicitly says 'Do not call as the model' and provides rationale that search results already contain its data, giving clear when-not-to-use guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_build_indexBuild semantic indexAIdempotent
Build the semantic index for specific books (required: bookId, ids, or query — full-library indexing is deferred). Extracts, chunks, and embeds each book. Set keywordOnly=true (or when the embedding model is absent, it happens automatically) to build a keyword-only index that powers mode:"keyword" search with zero ML dependencies. Re-run after adding books; use force to re-index unchanged ones. Set prune=true to also drop index entries for books that no longer exist in the library (removals/merges leave searchable orphans behind).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| ids | No | ||
| force | No | ||
| prune | No | ||
| query | No | ||
| bookId | No | ||
| library | No | ||
| enableFts | No | ||
| keywordOnly | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| chunks | No | |
| figures | No | |
| failures | No | |
| elapsedMs | No | |
| bookDetails | No | |
| keywordOnly | No | |
| prunedBooks | No | |
| booksIndexed | No | |
| booksSkipped | No | |
| prunedChunks | No | |
| prunedFigures | No | |
| booksRequested | No | |
| semanticReason | No | |
| semanticAvailable | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Describes the process: extracts, chunks, embeds. Notes automatic fallback to keyword-only if embedding model absent. Annotations indicate idempotent and not read-only, which aligns with building an index. No contradictions. Adds behavioral depth beyond annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two substantial sentences front-load the core purpose and list parameter usage. Dense but efficient; every clause adds value. Could be broken into bullet points for clarity, but acceptable for the complexity.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Covers selection, force, prune, keywordOnly modes, but omits library and enableFts parameters. Also does not explain the relationship to sibling calibre_semantic_search or what exactly the index enables. Adequate but not fully complete given 8 parameters and 0% schema coverage.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Explains bookId, ids, query as required selectors, and covers keywordOnly, force, prune. However, two parameters (library, enableFts) are not mentioned in the description. With 0% schema coverage, this is a notable gap.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Clearly states the tool builds a semantic index for specific books, using bookId, ids, or query, and explicitly distinguishes from full-library indexing. The verb 'build' and resource 'semantic index for specific books' is specific, and it sets scope boundaries.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Provides guidance on when to re-run (after adding books), when to use force (unchanged books), and when to use prune (removed books). Mentions keywordOnly for zero-ML search. While no explicit alternatives to siblings, the description implies when to use this vs. searching (calibre_semantic_search).
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_find_duplicatesFind duplicatesARead-only
Find probable duplicate books. mode=identical (exact title+authors) or similar (fuzzy) group the library (or ids/query/filter subset — filter takes a bundle name) with a merge-safety score; mode=compare diffs 2+ ids field-by-field. Read-only — never merges.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| ids | No | ||
| mode | No | identical | |
| limit | No | ||
| query | No | ||
| cursor | No | ||
| filter | No | ||
| library | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| keep | No | |
| mode | Yes | |
| count | No | |
| capped | No | |
| offset | No | |
| groupCount | No | |
| nextCursor | No | |
| mergeSafety | No | |
| booksScanned | No | |
| languagesDiffer | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description aligns with annotations (readOnlyHint=true) by declaring 'Read-only — never merges'. It adds behavioral details beyond annotations: modes, merge-safety score, field-by-field comparison. This fully informs the agent of the tool's non-destructive nature and output characteristics.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is two sentences: the first concisely covers all modes and subset options, the second reinforces read-only nature. Every word is informative, no redundancy. It is well front-loaded with the core purpose.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given 7 parameters, 3 modes, and existing annotations/output schema, the description covers core behavior and mode distinctions. However, it lacks details on limit (pagination), cursor (continuation), and library parameter. These gaps reduce completeness for an agent expecting full parameter context.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
With 0% schema description coverage, the description compensates by explaining mode (enum values), ids/query/filter (subset selection), and clarifying 'filter takes a bundle name'. However, it omits details for limit, cursor, and library, which are unexplained. The addition is adequate but not thorough given the param count.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the verb 'Find' and the resource 'probable duplicate books', and distinguishes three modes (identical, similar, compare) with specific actions. It differentiates from sibling tools like calibre_search by focusing on duplicate detection, and explicitly notes it is read-only.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explains when to use each mode (exact matching, fuzzy grouping, field-by-field comparison) and states the tool never merges, implying it is for identification only. However, it does not explicitly mention alternatives like calibre_search for non-duplicate queries, though the context of siblings makes this implicit.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_get_bookGet book metadataARead-only
Get full metadata (authors, ISBN, formats, comments, cover) for one book by its id or uuid (id and bookId are interchangeable — pass the bookId from a search result). Set include_cover=true only when the cover image itself must be inspected.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | No | ||
| bookId | No | ||
| library | No | ||
| include_cover | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| book | No | |
| libraryId | No | |
| serverUrl | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true. The description adds behavioral context about include_cover being optional and potentially costly, which is useful beyond the annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is concise, two sentences, front-loaded with the main action and key hints. No wasted words.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the output schema exists, return values need not be explained. However, the description omits the 'library' parameter, which is a gap in completeness for a tool with 4 parameters and no required fields.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
With 0% schema description coverage, the description partially compensates by explaining id/bookId interchangeability and include_cover usage, but it fails to mention the 'library' parameter, leaving it undocumented.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states 'Get full metadata (authors, ISBN, formats, comments, cover) for one book' with a specific verb and resource, and it distinguishes from siblings by specifying it retrieves a single book by identifier.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
It provides usage context by noting that id and bookId are interchangeable and suggests using include_cover only when necessary. However, it does not explicitly state when to use this tool over alternatives like calibre_search.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_get_contentRead book textARead-only
Extract a book's text as a capped, fenced excerpt; pass the returned nextCursor token verbatim to walk the whole book, or jump to a char position with offset (e.g. a search passage's charStart). Set structure=true for a chapter map with per-chapter cursors. To find text inside a book, use calibre_search scope=book.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | No | ||
| bookId | No | ||
| cursor | No | Opaque continuation token from a previous response (nextCursor or a chapter cursor). Pass it verbatim — do not construct one. | |
| format | No | ||
| offset | No | Char position to start reading from — e.g. a search passage's charStart. Mutually exclusive with cursor. | |
| library | No | ||
| maxChars | No | ||
| structure | No | ||
| sentenceAware | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| text | No | |
| count | No | |
| format | No | |
| hasToc | No | |
| offset | No | |
| backend | No | |
| hasMore | No | |
| chapters | No | |
| detector | No | |
| nextCursor | No | |
| totalChars | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description adds behavioral details beyond the annotations: it mentions that the text is returned in capped excerpts with a nextCursor token, that the cursor must be passed verbatim, and that offset can jump to a specific char position. The structure option is also noted. Annotations already indicate safe read, so this is sufficient.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is extremely concise: two sentences that pack a lot of information without any wasted words. The most important behavior (extracting text with cursors) comes first, and alternatives are mentioned at the end.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the output schema exists, return values don't need explanation. The description covers the core use case (pagination via cursor/offset, structural chapter map) and warns about using calibre_search for searching. However, it omits details about id vs bookId, maxChars limit, and sentenceAware, which with low schema coverage leaves some gaps. Still, for a complex tool, it's reasonably complete.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
With only 22% parameter coverage in the schema, the description must compensate. It explains cursor, offset, and structure, but doesn't mention id, bookId, format, library, maxChars, or sentenceAware. The explanation for cursor and offset is helpful, but many parameters remain unexplained, so the description adds only moderate value beyond the schema.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states it extracts a book's text as a capped, fenced excerpt, and distinguishes from sibling 'calibre_search' which is for finding text inside a book. The verb 'extract' and the specific resource (book text) make the purpose precise.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explicitly tells when to use this tool (to get text) and when to use 'calibre_search' instead (to find text inside a book). It does not discuss scenarios where calibre_get_book might be more appropriate, but the context is clear enough.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_get_figuresGet book figuresARead-only
List a book's figures — images the text references, identified by caption (Figure 1-2 / Рис. 3.1) — with page + caption per figure, then fetch chosen ones as images via indexes (≤3 per call). Captions let you pick figures before spending image tokens. In MCP Apps hosts the fetched figures also render for the user in an in-chat viewer, so you can point at them by figure number — but describe only what the pixels you received actually show.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | No | ||
| bookId | No | ||
| detail | No | Image resolution: standard ≤1024px longest side (default), high ≤1568px. | standard |
| format | No | Source format override (epub or pdf). Default: epub if present, else pdf. | |
| indexes | No | Figure indexes from a previous list call — returns those figures as images (≤3 per call). Omit to list. Indexes are per-format; re-list after changing format. | |
| library | No | ||
| include_uncaptioned | No | Also list/fetch images with no caption (covers, decorations, equation images). |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
The description adds behavioral details beyond annotations (readOnlyHint, openWorldHint): the ≤3 images per call constraint, platform-specific rendering in MCP hosts, and the caveat to describe only what pixels show. It does not contradict annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is concise and well-structured: first sentence captures core functionality, then elaborates on caption usage, platform behavior, and a crucial caveat. No wasted words.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given no output schema, the description adequately explains list output (page + caption) and fetch output (images). It includes constraints and a usage caveat. Minor gaps like error handling or index validation are omitted but acceptable for this tool.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
With 57% schema description coverage, the tool description adds meaning for key parameters: explains indexes come from a previous list, limits to ≤3, and defines detail resolution sizes. It also clarifies format default behavior. However, parameters like id, bookId, and library remain partially explained.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool's dual purpose: listing figures with captions and page numbers, then fetching images by index. It distinguishes itself from siblings like calibre_get_book or calibre_get_content by focusing specifically on figures.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description provides clear context on when to list vs. fetch ('Omit to list' for indexes), and advises using captions to pick figures before spending image tokens. However, it does not explicitly state when not to use this tool or compare with alternatives.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_list_categoriesList categoriesARead-only
Browse library categories (Authors, Tags, Series, Languages, Publisher). No field → list the categories; with a field → its values + counts, filterable via a valueFilter regex (case-insensitive by default; a leading inline flag like (?i) is accepted).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| field | No | ||
| limit | No | ||
| cursor | No | ||
| library | No | ||
| valueFilter | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| mode | No | |
| count | No | |
| field | No | |
| total | No | |
| offset | No | |
| values | No | |
| nextCursor | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already mark readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so the tool is read-only and may return partial results. The description adds behavioral nuance: the regex filter is case-insensitive by default but accepts inline flags like (?i) to override. This goes beyond annotations without contradiction.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is two sentences with no unnecessary words. The first sentence establishes the tool's domain, the second details the two modes and filter behavior. It is front-loaded and efficiently communicates the core functionality.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given 5 parameters and an output schema, the description covers the main use case (browsing categories and values) and the filter mechanism. It doesn't detail pagination or library selection, but these are common patterns. The output schema mitigates the need to describe return values. Overall, it is sufficiently complete for an AI agent to use the tool correctly.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It explains 'field' (with examples) and 'valueFilter' (regex, case-insensitivity, inline flags), but does not describe 'library', 'limit', or 'cursor'. While limit and cursor are standard, library is not mentioned, leaving some param meaning implicit.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool browses library categories and specifies examples (Authors, Tags, Series, Languages, Publisher). It distinguishes two modes: without 'field' it lists categories, with 'field' it returns values and counts. This clarifies its distinct purpose among sibling tools like calibre_list_libraries.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explains when to use each mode ('No field → list the categories; with a field → its values + counts') and mentions regex filtering via valueFilter. It does not explicitly state when not to use it or compare to other tools, but the two-mode guidance is clear and actionable.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_list_librariesList Calibre librariesARead-only
List the Calibre libraries available on the Content Server and which one is the default. Call this first to discover valid library names.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No parameters | |||
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| default | No | |
| libraries | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so the description's claim of listing libraries and identifying the default is fully consistent. It adds context about discovering valid library names, which is helpful beyond annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two sentences, no wasted words. The first sentence states the purpose, and the second provides usage guidance. Everything earns its place.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
For a simple tool with no parameters, existing annotations, and an output schema, the description covers purpose and usage. No additional behavioral details are needed.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
With zero parameters and 100% schema coverage, the description does not need to add parameter details. The baseline for 0 params is 4, and the description adds meaning about the tool's output, which is sufficient.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the verb 'List' and the resource 'Calibre libraries', specifying that it also indicates the default library. This distinguishes it from sibling tools like calibre_search or calibre_get_book, which operate on individual libraries.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explicitly says 'Call this first to discover valid library names,' providing clear guidance that this tool should be used before any tool that requires a library name. It does not exclude any specific contexts, but the instruction is sufficient.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_open_bookOpen book in local viewer (widget-internal)ARead-only
Internal endpoint for the in-chat widgets' Open button. Launches a book in the local Calibre viewer via the calibre:// scheme. Do not call as the model — use calibre_get_book to show a book instead.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | Yes | ||
| format | No | ||
| library | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| url | Yes | |
| format | Yes | |
| opened | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true. The description adds that it is an internal endpoint and launches a viewer via a URI scheme, providing additional context beyond the annotations. No contradictions.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two sentences, front-loaded with purpose, followed by an explicit usage directive. No redundant information; every sentence serves a purpose.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's simplicity, annotations cover behavioral safety, and an output schema exists (so return values are documented elsewhere). The description lacks parameter explanations, but the main usage context is well-covered.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 0%, and the description provides no information about the three parameters (id, format, library). Agents must infer meaning solely from names and types, which is insufficient for proper invocation.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states it launches a book in the local Calibre viewer via the calibre:// scheme. It distinguishes itself from the sibling tool calibre_get_book by specifying it is internal for widget buttons.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Provides explicit guidance: 'Do not call as the model — use calibre_get_book to show a book instead.' This tells the agent both when not to use it and what alternative to use.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_pingCalibre pingARead-only
Health check: confirms the MCP server can reach the running Calibre Content Server via calibredb, and reports semantic-search status (embedding model, dependency, index vector count). Returns library categories on success.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No parameters | |||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Adds context beyond readOnlyHint and openWorldHint annotations: reports semantic-search details (embedding model, dependency, index count) and returns library categories. No contradictions.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two concise sentences with no fluff. First sentence covers purpose and key outputs; second adds return type. Perfectly front-loaded.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given 0 parameters and no output schema, the description adequately covers the tool's behavior (reachability, semantic status, library categories). Missing output format details but acceptable for a simple health check.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
No parameters in schema; description does not need to add parameter details. Baseline for zero parameters is 4.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Description clearly states 'Health check' with specific verbs and resources: confirms server reachability, reports semantic-search status. Distinct from sibling tools which are search/list/build operations.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Implied usage as a health check before other tools, but no explicit when-to-use or alternatives mentioned. Could be improved by stating 'Use to verify server connectivity before other Calibre operations.'
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_quality_reportQuality reportARead-only
Scan books for metadata problems: missing fields, raw-filename titles, invalid ISBNs, author-sort mismatches, series gaps. Defaults to the whole library; narrow with ids/query/filter (a bundle name) or specific checks. Read-only.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| ids | No | ||
| limit | No | ||
| query | No | ||
| checks | No | ||
| cursor | No | ||
| filter | No | ||
| library | No | ||
| readability | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| count | No | |
| total | No | |
| capped | No | |
| offset | No | |
| byCheck | No | |
| nextCursor | No | |
| booksScanned | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true, and openWorldHint=true, so the description correctly echoes 'Read-only' and adds no contradiction. The description adds value by disclosing default scope (whole library) and narrowing mechanisms, which are behavioral traits beyond the annotations' safety profile.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two sentences, highly informative with no wasted words. The first sentence lists specific check types for quick scanning, and the second sentence covers scoping and read-only nature. Every sentence earns its place.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
With an output schema present, the description doesn't need to explain return values. The 8-parameter tool is well-covered by the description's guidance on scoping and check types. Minor gap: no mention of pagination support via 'cursor' or how 'limit' interacts with default scope, but the overall completeness is high.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 0%, putting the full burden on the description. The description explains the purpose of 'filter' as 'a bundle name' and 'checks' as specific check types, which adds meaning beyond the schema's type-only definitions. However, it doesn't detail all 8 parameters (e.g., 'cursor', 'readability' are only schema-named), so some parameters remain opaque.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly specifies the verb 'Scan' and the resource 'books for metadata problems', listing specific problem types (missing fields, raw-filename titles, invalid ISBNs, author-sort mismatches, series gaps). It distinguishes from siblings by focusing on quality reporting rather than search, get, or list operations.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description states 'Defaults to the whole library; narrow with ids/query/filter (a bundle name) or specific checks', providing clear guidance on how to narrow scope. It doesn't explicitly state when not to use or contrast with alternatives among the sibling tools, but the context is clear.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_recover_metadataRecover book metadataARead-only
Propose real metadata for a book with a missing/raw-filename title via online provider lookup (ISBN from its identifiers or text, else title/author) on Open Library and Google Books. Preview only — returns a changes object for calibre_update_book; never writes.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | No | ||
| bookId | No | ||
| library | No | ||
| sources | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| bookId | No | |
| source | No | |
| changes | No | |
| lookupKey | No | |
| confidence | No | |
| fieldCount | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Adds significant detail beyond annotations: explains it does an online lookup using ISBN or text, uses specific sources, and returns a changes object without writing. Aligns with readOnlyHint and openWorldHint. No contradictions.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two concise sentences. First sentence states action and sources, second emphasizes preview-only nature. No redundant information.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Covers key aspects: purpose, side-effect-free, sources, output shape (changes object). Lacks error handling or fallback behavior details, but output schema is provided separately, so overall complete enough for effective use.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 0%. Description implies id/bookId identify the book and library specifies the library, but does not explicitly describe each parameter. Sources are mentioned in the lookup context. Some inference needed, but adequate for basic use.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Describes a specific action: proposing real metadata for books with missing/raw-filename titles via online lookup on Open Library and Google Books, returning a changes object. Clearly distinguishes from siblings like calibre_get_book and calibre_search.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
States when to use (missing/raw-filename title) and that it is preview-only (never writes). Implicitly guides to use calibre_update_book afterward. Could be more explicit about when not to use or alternatives, but sufficient.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_searchSearch booksARead-only
Find books by exact title, author, ISBN, tag, or Calibre query syntax (mode=meta), or by full text (mode=fts). scope=book returns short keyword snippets from inside one book; first hits often land in TOC/front matter — for definitional or topic questions within a book prefer calibre_semantic_search scope=book (ranked passages with char offsets). Use calibre_semantic_search for meaning/topic queries. For "how many" questions use countOnly=true (returns only the count). filter accepts a bundle name to scope the search (list bundles via calibre_manage_bundles).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| mode | No | meta | |
| sort | No | ||
| limit | No | ||
| query | Yes | ||
| scope | No | library | |
| bookId | No | ||
| cursor | No | ||
| filter | No | ||
| library | No | ||
| countOnly | No | ||
| sortOrder | No | ||
| include_excluded | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| mode | No | |
| count | No | |
| query | No | |
| scope | No | |
| total | No | |
| bookId | No | |
| filter | No | |
| offset | No | |
| bookIds | No | |
| nextCursor | No | |
| exclusionsApplied | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=true, so the description does not need to restate those. The description adds value by explaining that scope=book returns short keyword snippets often from TOC/front matter, which is behavioral context beyond annotations. No contradiction with annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is relatively concise for the complexity of the tool, with front-loaded purpose and clear examples. However, it could be slightly more structured (e.g., bullet points) and it mentions 'filter' and 'bundle' which may confuse if not explained further.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given that output schema exists, the description appropriately focuses on input semantics and behavior. It explains the core differences between modes, scopes, and filters, and references sibling tools. It lacks explanation on pagination (cursor) and sorting, which are in the schema but not described. Still, it is mostly complete for a search tool.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must compensate. It explains the meaning of mode, scope, countOnly, filter, and gives context for how query works. However, it does not explain all 12 parameters (e.g., bookId, cursor, sort, sortOrder, include_excluded, library). It covers about half the parameters, which is good but not comprehensive.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states that this tool finds books by exact title, author, ISBN, tag, or Calibre query syntax (mode=meta), or by full text (mode=fts). It also distinguishes different scopes (library vs book) and provides specific guidance on when to use countOnly. This is specific verb+resource description with clear sibling differentiation.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explicitly tells the agent when to use calibre_semantic_search (for meaning/topic queries and within-book semantic search) instead of this tool, and advises using countOnly for 'how many' questions. It also explains that scope=book returns keyword snippets often from TOC/front matter, giving clear context for when each scope is appropriate.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
calibre_semantic_searchSemantic searchARead-only
Meaning-based search over the local index. scope=library ranks books; scope=book (needs bookId) ranks passages within one book. target=figures searches figure captions instead of text — use when the user asks for a diagram/chart/schema; hits point at calibre_get_figures for the pixels. mode=hybrid (default) fuses semantic + keyword matches; mode=vector is semantic-only; mode=keyword is exact keyword/FTS (no model at query time). All modes need an index built by calibre_build_index. filter accepts a bundle name to scope library searches (list bundles via calibre_manage_bundles).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| mode | No | hybrid | |
| topK | No | ||
| query | Yes | ||
| scope | No | library | |
| bookId | No | ||
| filter | No | ||
| target | No | text | |
| library | No | ||
| include_excluded | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| mode | No | |
| note | No | |
| count | No | |
| scope | No | |
| bookId | No | |
| filter | No | |
| target | No | |
| bookIds | No | |
| figures | No | |
| results | No | |
| maxScore | No | |
| passages | No | |
| reranked | No | |
| maxRerank | No | |
| lowConfidence | No | |
| semanticReason | No | |
| exclusionsApplied | No | |
| semanticAvailable | No |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and openWorldHint=false, so the description's job is reduced. It adds transparency about the prerequisite (index built by calibre_build_index), the hybrid fusion behavior, and the domain-specific behavior of target=figures. A minor gap: it doesn't mention that include_excluded is supported or what the output format looks like beyond noting where to get figure pixels. Despite this, it provides meaningful behavioral context beyond annotations, earning a 4.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is packed with information in a tight, efficient structure, starting with the core purpose and then systematically covering scopes, modes, prerequisites. It uses semicolons effectively. However, it could benefit from bullet points or clearer separation between concepts (e.g., scope vs mode vs target), as the current wall of text may be dense for an agent to parse quickly. Still, no fluff earns a 4.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given high complexity (9 parameters, 3 enums, 3 modes, 2 scopes, 2 targets), the description covers most critical behaviors: modes, scope filtering, figure search, filter bundle. An output schema exists, so return values don't need documentation. Missing details: no mention of topK or include_excluded behavior, and no explanation of how hybrid fusion works. For a high-complexity tool with rich annotations and output schema, this is nearly complete, but small gaps keep it from a 5.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description carries the full burden. It adds semantics for 5 of 9 parameters (mode, scope, target, filter, bookId) but lacks descriptions for topK, library, include_excluded. The description compensates well for a complex tool, but omits the optional filtering and result count parameters. With 9 params and 0% coverage, a 4 is appropriate for substantial added value, though some gaps remain.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states it performs 'meaning-based search over the local index' and distinguishes itself from siblings by detailing three scopes (library, book, book with target=figures) and three modes (hybrid, vector, keyword). It explicitly explains when target=figures should be used, setting it apart from text-based searches. This is specific and actionable for an agent.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description provides explicit when-to-use guidance: for figure searches, it says 'use when the user asks for a diagram/chart/schema', and for each mode it describes the appropriate use case (e.g., mode=keyword for exact/FTS). It also instructs to use calibre_get_figures for image pixels and calibre_build_index as a prerequisite. This comprehensive guidance with alternatives is a 5.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Tool Schema Changelog
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.
4 tool updates
v0.7.3- Changed
calibre_find_duplicates1 field changed- added
Input schema / properties / filterAdded value: +{ + "maxLength": 256, + "minLength": 1, + "type": "string" +}
- Changed
calibre_quality_report1 field changed- added
Input schema / properties / filterAdded value: +{ + "maxLength": 256, + "minLength": 1, + "type": "string" +}
- Changed
calibre_search4 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / filterAdded value: +{ + "maxLength": 256, + "minLength": 1, + "type": "string" +} - added
Input schema / properties / include_excludedAdded value: +{ + "type": "boolean" +} - added
Output schema / properties / exclusionsAppliedAdded value: +{ + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" +} - added
Output schema / properties / filterAdded value: +{ + "type": "string" +}
- Changed
calibre_semantic_search4 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / filterAdded value: +{ + "maxLength": 256, + "minLength": 1, + "type": "string" +} - added
Input schema / properties / include_excludedAdded value: +{ + "type": "boolean" +} - added
Output schema / properties / exclusionsAppliedAdded value: +{ + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" +} - added
Output schema / properties / filterAdded value: +{ + "type": "string" +}
14 tool updates
v0.7.2- First observed
calibre_board_data - First observed
calibre_build_index - First observed
calibre_find_duplicates - First observed
calibre_get_book - First observed
calibre_get_content - First observed
calibre_get_figures - First observed
calibre_list_categories - First observed
calibre_list_libraries - First observed
calibre_open_book - First observed
calibre_ping - First observed
calibre_quality_report - First observed
calibre_recover_metadata - First observed
calibre_search - First observed
calibre_semantic_search
TDQS
Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose, from listing libraries and searching to retrieving book content and building indexes. The two internal tools are explicitly marked as do-not-call, preventing confusion. Even overlapping tools like calibre_search and calibre_semantic_search are well-differentiated by description.
Tools mostly follow a consistent verb_noun pattern (list_libraries, get_book, find_duplicates). A few exceptions like semantic_search (adj_noun) and board_data (noun_noun) slightly break the pattern, but overall naming is predictable and readable.
With 14 tools, the server covers a broad but focused scope for Calibre library management. Two internal tools (board_data, open_book) add minor overhead but are clearly marked as internal, keeping the useful tool count at 12, which is reasonable.
The tool set is heavily read-oriented, lacking essential write operations such as add, update, or delete books. The only write-related tool (recover_metadata) merely previews changes without applying them, leaving obvious gaps in full library lifecycle management.
Maintenance
Resources
Unclaimed servers have limited discoverability.
Looking for Admin?
If you are the server author, to access and configure the admin panel.
Related MCP Connectors
Read-only MCP server exposing a user ORANO library to their own AI agent.
Agentic search over your Dewey document collections from any MCP-compatible client.
Personal knowledge base MCP server with semantic search, auto-categorization, metadata extraction
MCP server for searching Airweave collections with natural language queries.
Related MCP Servers
- AlicenseAqualityDmaintenanceAn MCP server to manage and organize a Calibre ebook library, enabling metadata editing, search, conversion, and more through AI assistants.175MIT
- AlicenseNot gradedqualityDmaintenanceMCP server enabling LLMs to query a local Calibre Content Server for ebook metadata, chapters, and content in HTML or Markdown.16MIT
- AlicenseNot gradedqualityAmaintenanceEnables semantic search over local Calibre libraries via MCP, allowing AI assistants to query books, annotations, and export bibliographies while keeping data private.8MIT
- AlicenseNot gradedqualityBmaintenanceEnables conversational management of a Calibre ebook library via MCP, including search, metadata editing, adding, converting, deduplicating, removing, and emailing books with human-in-the-loop safety.1MIT
Latest Blog Posts
- Who's Calling? MCP Hosts Are an Identity Blind Spot (And the Spec Knows It)By Om-Shree-0709 on .mcpAgent IdentityOAuth 2.1
- Your AI Chatbot Just Exposed Your CEO's Salary to an InternBy Om-Shree-0709 on .Agent IdentityMCP SecurityOAuth Delegation
- Why MCP Servers Need Execution Sandboxing (And Why Your Current Stack Isn't Enough)By Om-Shree-0709 on .Agentic AiPrompt InjectionWebAssembly
MCP directory API
We provide all the information about MCP servers via our MCP API.
curl -X GET 'https://glama.ai/api/mcp/v1/servers/caelum29/calibre-mcp'
If you have feedback or need assistance with the MCP directory API, please join our Discord server