Enhance Your eBook Experience on Chromebook with Librum

If you’re a Chromebook user who enjoys reading eBooks, you might want to explore using Librum, a sleek and free open-source eBook reader tailored for Chrome OS. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to get started with Librum on your device.

Getting Started: Enable Linux on your Chromebook

Before you can install Librum, you’ll need to enable Linux support on your Chromebook. Follow these steps:

1. Open Settings: Click on the clock displayed in the bottom right corner of your screen. Then, access the settings gear icon.

2. Navigate to Developers: In the settings menu, find the "Advanced" section and click the arrow to expand it. Look for "Developers" and click on it.

3. Enable Linux: Under the “Linux developer environment” section, locate and click the “Turn on” button. This will initiate the download and installation of a Debian Linux container.

4. Open the Terminal: Once the installation is complete, the terminal app will launch automatically. Type "Penguin" to access your new Debian setup.

5. Update and Upgrade: In the terminal, run the following commands to update your system:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade

Now that your system is prepared, you can move on to installing Librum.

Installing Librum on Your Chromebook

Librum is available for installation through the Flatpak packaging system. Here’s how to install it:

1. Access the Terminal: Open the Chrome OS terminal app and click on "Penguin".

2. Install Flatpak: Enter the following command to install the Flatpak package, which is necessary for running Librum:

   sudo apt install flatpak

3. Configure the Flathub Repository: Enable the Flathub app store to access Librum and other Flatpak applications:

   flatpak --user remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

4. Install Librum: With Flathub ready, install Librum using the following command:

   flatpak install flathub com.librumreader.librum

5. Launching Librum: You can find Librum in the “Linux apps” folder within the Chrome OS app menu, or launch it directly with:

   flatpak run com.librumreader.librum

Using Librum for Your Reading Needs

Once Librum is installed, it’s time to set it up:

1. Open Librum: Start the application through your app menu. You’ll encounter a welcome screen prompting you to create an account.

2. Create an Account: Follow the on-screen instructions to create and verify your account via email. This step is mandatory to access the features of Librum.

3. Add Your eBooks: After logging in, navigate to the “Home” page and click the “Add books” button. A pop-up will prompt you to select eBook files. Make sure your eBook files (in formats like EPUB, MOBI, PDF, etc.) are stored in the “Linux files” folder before adding them.

4. Start Reading: Your eBooks will appear on Librum’s main screen. Click on any title to start reading. If you want to bookmark your place, simply click the bookmark icon at the top left of the screen.

By following these detailed steps, you can enjoy a seamless eBook reading experience on your Chromebook with Librum. Happy reading!