Guide
Build several clear, reviewable changes for selected books, then see exactly what will change before applying them.
Published 2026-09-13 · Reviewed 2026-09-13
Batch Studio helps when an import or an older workflow left several books with the wrong status, format, date, source, or planning details.
Build a change set
- Open Library and choose Select books, or long press a cover on a phone. Selection circles stay hidden while you browse and appear when selection mode starts. The selection launcher keeps the shelf available so you can select more books. On grouped phone shelves, Select all in group applies only to the open group.
- Choose Edit selected to open Batch Studio with your selected books, change categories, and an empty change set.
- Choose a field. Single values and dates can be set or cleared. Lists such as formats and private tags can be added to, removed from, replaced, or cleared.
- Add more fields when the repair needs several coordinated changes.
ARC-only choices are not applied to Personal books, and Personal source or purchase details are not applied to ARC books. If you change Book type in the same change set, the new type decides which other fields apply. Dates remain the exact calendar days you chose.
Review before applying
Choose Review changes to see the selected, affected, unchanged, incompatible, and clearing counts, plus the exact saved effects for each affected book. The confirmation names both the number of selected books and the drafted changes. Keep editing returns to the draft without losing it.
On a phone, the fourth step names every confirmed book, every book waiting to sync, and every book that needs attention. Choose Done and clear selection to return to the shelf and finish selection mode. Return to shelf before applying keeps your selection so you can add more books, while Clear explicitly exits selection. A warning protects any unsubmitted draft. Deleting remains separate with its own confirmation.