While reading is generally known as a relaxing and entertaining activity, true book lovers know that it is a lot more than just a way to unwind after a stressful day. Reading, in order to provide the best results, needs to be a structured and well-organized activity. Using a Notion reading list template might be just the thing to take your performance up to a different level.
Here at Basmo, we are 100% dedicated to helping you become the ultimate reader. That means that we are constantly presenting you with the best possible solutions to all the problems you might be facing as a lover of books. Here’s what you need to know about Notion reading list templates and how to make the best of them.
3 Best Free Notion Reading List Templates
The great thing about Notion reading list templates is that you have more than enough options to choose from even if you don’t want to invest any money. There is a great selection out there, but finding the best free notion reading list template can be a rather challenging activity.
That is why we did some research and managed to create a short list of our favorites. The options below are more than enough for any reading enthusiast to start adding some structure to their reading habits.
1. Personal library dashboard
The personal library dashboard is available for download on Notion at zero costs. It is a great way to start organizing your library and comes with some rather useful additional features.
For starters, as the name suggests, its main function is to help you organize the books in your collection and create TBR lists. On top of this though, the lists can be organized by book status (currently reading, to read, already read), you can initiate personal book projects (like assigning yourself tasks- to read 20 books in a year for example).
The template also allows you to save book quotes and create lists of your favorite authors. For a free template, you get quite a lot.
2. Simple Library Template
This is yet another great Notion book list template you can get completely free. As the name suggests, this template focuses on being the simplest possible version you can find.
This library template comes with just the most basic functions, such as creating a library, a wishlist, and a section for book summaries. Of course, there’s quite a lot you can build on top for yourself if you want to have it improved.
The great thing about this template is that even though it is a very simple, no-nonsense solution, your library can be as detailed as you want. The section where you can add the books to your collection comes with a predefined structure where you can add the title, author, genre, and category, set priority levels, manually insert your progress as you read them, and add additional comments.
3. Reading list
This free Notion template comes with pretty much everything you would expect to find in a basic library template, but also adds a twist to the concept.
While it works great as a way to organize your books, it can also be used to save other reading materials or even media. You can create podcast lists, lists of online articles you want to read, and pretty much anything else you can think of (if you add your own categories).
5 Best Paid Notion Reading List Templates
If you’re looking for better-performing templates or more complex options for your reading lists, you should know that there are also Notion reading list templates you need to pay for. Using them would provide a great experience and you would enjoy a ton of benefits at relatively low costs.
Again, the choices are rather varied both in terms of costs and functionality, but we did our best to find the ones that are truly worthy of your time and money.
1. Smart Notion Reading List Template
Available at different prices depending on your location ranging from 4$ to 12$, this template comes with a plethora of benefits for those who choose to use it.
For starters, you should know that it is automized, meaning that you won’t need to input any data manually. It is connected to 6 different databases, which means that the chances of not finding a title and having to input its details manually are quite slim.
Additionally, it comes with a reading challenge widget which can be used for setting reading goals and tracking your progress toward meeting them. You can also add notes and highlights and it generates reading stats for each year of use.
2. Bookworm Notion Reading List Template
With a cost of 10.75$, this reading list template is also a great choice. It comes with a curated reading list and works as a great digital bookshelf.
You can add the books on your TBR list, add statuses, filter them by genre or other characteristics, and it gives you the option to add reviews or quotes wherever you feel necessary.
The books can also be labeled, you can change their status depending on your progress reading them, and you can also track your yearly reading goal. Not only that, but the template will also help you see your lifetime reading statistics.
3. The Ultimate Reading List Tracker Dashboard for Notion
For a one time cost of 7$, you could choose this template for all your reading list needs. It is a great choice, it comes with a visually pleasing layout and more than enough functionalities.
You can use this template for organizing your library and tracking your reading at the same time. You can use the dedicated sections for reading your books in the order you prefer, you can set up your bookshelf however you please, and take advantage of predefined dropdown menus that make navigating your library a whole lot easier.
The template also generates a summary of your reading sessions, builds your stats including the number of pages or books you read and other interesting data.
4. My personal library – Notion Template
Available from as little as 1$, this template is one of the simplest on our list of paid Notion reading list templates. You can organize your bookshelf, keep track of the books you read and want to read, or you can even create your separate wishlists for the books you plan to purchase.
While the template is pretty basic, you still get enough to help you keep your reading habits well-organized and as an added bonus, you can even create your own reading challenges to keep yourself motivated to read more.
5. Personal Library Template
One of the pricier options on our list ($20), this template comes as a no-nonsense option for everyone who wants to put some order in their reading habits.
You get mostly the basic features you would expect from a reading list template, with some added features that will help you track your progress toward meeting your goals and staying motivated.
The books can be tagged and sorted according to several criteria, which makes both organizing and navigating your collection a lot easier than you might expect. The template gives you more than enough freedom and you can customize it and make it as complex as you want.
What Is the Best Notion Reading List Alternative?
While Notion may seem like a decent option for someone who just needs to write down a couple of titles in order to read them later, it’s important to know that there are much better options out there.
And what I am specifically referring to are reading tracking apps. These come as standalone options for all book lovers and have tons of useful features, including the option to create reading lists.
The best reading app, which also comes with the possibility to create reading lists, is Basmo.
This is a modern solution for today’s reader and is feature packed to meet even the most fastidious expectations. Not only is Basmo a much better option for reading lists than Notion, but it also comes with a bunch of other additional features which make it stand out.
How Is Basmo Better Than the Notion Reading List?
Let’s first have a quick look at the particular aspects that make Basmo a better Notion reading list alternative.
Easy to set up
As soon as you download the Basmo reading app, you will have access to a couple of predefined book collections, ready to be populated and used. There is no additional template necessary, no extra downloads, no dummy data to be removed. You can start populating your reading list seconds after opening the app for the first time
Automatized process
On top of the option to manually populate the reading lists, Basmo also uses an automatic process through which books are added to the “currently reading” section as soon as you start a reading session for a certain book. The same goes as soon as you finish reading a book. Once you’ve read it, it is automatically moved to the “Finished” book collection.
Easily customizable lists
You can use the predefined lists, or you can create your own separate book collections. This gives you the chance to have separate lists for pleasure reading and learning for example. Or you can have separate reading lists for each year, or simply separate the books you want to read by genre. The choice is yours, but what’s more important is that all this process is intuitive and very quick.
Books are easier to add to lists
While Notion requires each separate book to be added in the form of a note or ticket, this process is made a lot easier. You can simply search for a book using its title, author or a relevant keyword, and once you find it, you can simply add it to the desired list in just a couple of taps. No need to manually write its name, to upload the cover image or other details. Everything is already made available to you.
On top of the reading list feature, which is obviously a lot easier to use and better overall than the Notion book list template, Basmo comes with a plethora of additional features designed to make reading a more enjoyable and productive activity for book lovers of all levels.
Basmo Additional Features
- Goal setting: You will be able to set personal goals for your reading. You can choose to set a daily goal for the time you spend reading every day or a yearly goal for the number of books you read.
- Reading sessions: Every time you pick up a book, you can start a reading session with Basmo. That way, you will know exactly how much time you spend reading, how many pages you read every day or other interesting statistics about your reading habits.
- Daily reminders: Basmo gives you the option to set a schedule for yourself, according to your needs or desires. You can select which days of the week you want to read in and at what time you want each session to take place. You can even select different times on different days in order to take into account your daily routine. Whenever a reading session is getting close, Basmo will remind you through push notifications so you don’t miss it.
- Note taking: Sometimes reading and writing go hand in hand. Most readers like to take notes in order to remember important details, to annotate the books they’re reading or to simply write down their own thoughts about the novel. Basmo makes this incredibly easy through the note taking feature that is automatically available whenever you start a reading session. You can either write down your own thoughts in different fonts, colors or formats or you can even scan the pages of a book and extract the text you want to save.
Final Thoughts About the Notion Reading List Template
Notion is a good productivity tool overall, but it simply doesn’t shine when it comes to its applications for reading enthusiasts. It is no match for a dedicated reading app, and it definitely can’t hold a candle to Basmo.
Basmo is easy to use, works seamlessly both on Android and iOS and is filled to the brim with features guaranteed to take your reading habits to the next level.
Try Basmo and see the benefits for yourself.
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