Reading logs
Reading log: free printable and editable reading records
By BiblioFiend · Last updated
Sections5
Choose your reading log format
Fictional example, not a real reader record
| Title | Author | Started | Finished | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Window Seat | A. Example | Oct 3 | Oct 12 | Finished | Fictional example: liked the quiet opening |
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Editable CSV: 47 bytes, column headings only, version 1.0
Try one blank entry
These fields stay on this page while it is open. Print to keep a copy.
A reading log is a record of what you read, rather than a list of books you feel you ought to finish. Choose a plain adult sheet, a spacious family sheet or a CSV you can edit. Start with a title and author. Dates, status and a short note can follow when they help you remember the book.
Start with a plain title-and-author record in Letter, A4 or CSV. The family PDF is a separate shared-reading choice. Every file begins empty. Add dates and notes when they help you remember the book; a record with fewer fields can still do its job.
Using the reading log
Keep one row for each reading attempt. If you return to a book years later, a new row lets you keep both responses. A paused or stopped book still belongs in your reading history. Leave the finish date blank until it is known; a blank is not a failed goal.
Use the status field for Want to read, Reading, Finished, Paused or Stopped. Pick a short set of labels and use them consistently. There is no need to add a star rating if a few words tell you more. The CSV starts empty, while the on-page sample is clearly fictional.
Field guide and print setup
- Title: The name on your chosen edition.
- Author: The author or credited creator as named on the book.
- Started: When you began this reading attempt, if useful.
- Finished: The completion date; leave unknown dates empty.
- Status: Your own consistent label for the reading stage.
- Notes: A short personal response, left blank for privacy if preferred.
Preview the plain log and the shared-reading sheet before choosing one. Check that the last writing row fits your printer's output. Actual size is a useful starting setting; these ordinary rows can tolerate fit-to-page printing if needed. Keep one blank copy to avoid repeatedly copying a filled log.
Import the CSV into a new spreadsheet as comma-separated text. It supplies the plain log headings, without a fictional reader's history. Choose a date format before entering dates if your spreadsheet tends to reinterpret them. The file is a table of text fields, with no executable features.
FAQ
Can a book stay unfinished?
Yes. A paused or abandoned title can be worth remembering. Leave Finished empty and use your chosen status label. A brief note about why you stopped may help with a later reading choice; it need not turn a private record into an explanation owed to anyone else.
Is this the same as a reading challenge?
The plain log starts with what you read, while a challenge starts with a plan for what might come next. You can record challenge books here without adding its prompt rules to every entry. Use the linked reading challenge only when you want that extra selection task.
Reading log verdict
The reading log should take less effort than the reading. Keep the fields that earn their place and print another sheet when this one is full.