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A calmer digital reading library: how to organise books for your e-reader

A simple way to organise books and documents for an e-reader: folders, file formats, DRM, free sources, backups and moving books onto IKAWE Moov.

By IKAWE · Published · Updated · 5 min read

Key takeaways

  • Keep one tidy master folder on your computer, backed up somewhere else. Your reader shouldn't hold the only copy.
  • EPUB is the best format for small screens. Moov supports DRM-free EPUB, MOBI, FB2, TXT and CBZ files, PDFs (via the companion app) and images such as JPG, PNG and PSD.
  • Books with DRM, such as most Kindle and Kobo store purchases and Libby loans, only open in their own apps and devices.
  • Move a few books at a time, check they open properly, and keep the originals.
In this article
  1. Keep a copy you can find
  2. Let a library manager do the work
  3. Check the format and DRM before transferring
  4. Where to find DRM-free books
  5. Begin with a small selection
  6. Moving books onto Moov
  7. Keep it tidy
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources

Keep a copy you can find

Create one folder on your computer for the books and documents you want to read. A simple structure is easy to keep up:

  • Books/Author/Title.epub, for example Books/Austen, Jane/Persuasion.epub
  • A separate Documents folder for articles, manuals and PDFs
  • An Inbox folder for new downloads you haven't sorted yet

Give each file a recognisable name, and keep a backup separate from your reader or its memory card, such as a cloud drive or an external disk. Your device shouldn't be the only copy of a book that matters to you.

Let a library manager do the work

If you have more than a few dozen books, the free, open-source calibre e-book manager is worth installing. It imports books, fixes titles, authors and covers, converts DRM-free files between formats and can send books to an e-reader. Export books from it to a folder, then add them to Moov.

Check the format and DRM before transferring

A filename ending in .epub or .pdf doesn't tell you everything. What matters is the format, whether the file has DRM (copy protection), and whether your reader supports both.

E-book formats and IKAWE Moov
FormatWhat it isOn Moov
EPUBThe standard reflowable e-book format: text re-wraps to fit any screen and font sizeYes, Lite and Pro
TXTPlain text, with no formattingYes, Lite and Pro
PDFA fixed page layout, usually designed for A4 or letter paperYes, via the companion app; Moov Pro adds enhanced reflow
MOBIAn older Kindle format, common for DRM-free e-booksYes, Lite and Pro
FB2FictionBook, popular for e-books in Eastern EuropeYes, Lite and Pro
CBZComic book archives: zipped page imagesYes, Lite and Pro
ImagesJPG/JPEG, PNG, PNM, PGM, PBM, PPM, PAM, PSD and PSYes, Lite and Pro
AZW3, KFXAmazon's newer Kindle formatsNo; convert DRM-free copies to EPUB with calibre
Any DRM-protected fileStore purchases and library loans locked to an accountNo
E-book formats and IKAWE Moov

Most books from the Kindle and Kobo stores, and Libby library loans, are DRM-protected, so they only open in those companies' apps and readers. Use files you own or have permission to read, and look for DRM-free editions when you buy.

Where to find DRM-free books

  • Project Gutenberg: tens of thousands of free public-domain classics
  • Standard Ebooks: free public-domain books with careful typography and covers
  • Publishers and stores that sell DRM-free EPUBs; many independent and technical publishers do
  • Some Kindle books: since January 2026, Amazon has let publishers make titles available without DRM (Notebookcheck)
  • Your own writing, notes and documents, saved as EPUB, TXT or PDF

Begin with a small selection

Choose a few titles you're ready to read rather than moving your entire archive at once. Open each transferred file, check that the text is legible and that page turns, the table of contents and footnotes work as expected. Keep the originals until you've checked the copies.

On a small screen, a short reading list also makes it quicker to pick up where you left off.

Moving books onto Moov

  • USB-C: connect Moov to your computer, select USB Mode from the menu in the upper-right corner of the Home screen, and copy EPUBs and images into the books folder.
  • IKAWE app: import books on your phone (iOS or Android), then select Sync on Moov. The app prepares PDFs and other formats for Moov. Step by step: add books to Moov.
  • microSD: Moov stores books on a microSD card (16 GB included, up to 256 GB), which you can also load in a card reader.

A typical novel in EPUB takes 0.5–3 MB, so the included 16 GB card holds thousands of books.

Keep it tidy

  • Move finished books to an archive folder on your computer, and off the reader.
  • Keep series together in one folder, with the series number at the start of each filename.
  • Back up after you add books, not just once.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best e-book format for an e-reader?

EPUB. Its text re-wraps to fit the screen and your chosen font size, which matters most on a small screen.

Can I put Kindle books on Moov?

Only DRM-free ones: Moov reads DRM-free MOBI files, and calibre converts other DRM-free Kindle formats to EPUB. DRM-protected Kindle purchases only open in Amazon's apps and Kindle devices.

Do I need calibre?

No. You can add books with the IKAWE app or over USB-C. calibre helps if you have a large library to organise or files to convert.

How many books fit on 16 GB?

Thousands. A typical novel in EPUB is 0.5–3 MB; illustrated books and PDFs are larger.

Sources

  1. calibre e-book manager
  2. Project Gutenberg
  3. Standard Ebooks
  4. Notebookcheck: Amazon Kindle e-books now partially DRM-free
  5. CrossPoint Reader on GitHub
  6. IKAWE Moov Lite and Moov Pro

Specifications and prices checked on October 21, 2026. Products change; check the maker’s page before buying.

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