How to Create and Organize Standalone Notebooks

Marginal notes inside an ebook are wonderful for capturing quick reactions to specific paragraphs. But deep study often demands a wider canvas: syntheses of multiple chapters, course notes, draft outlines, or a dedicated personal commonplace book where ideas can mature over seasons.

GemReader includes a dedicated **Notebooks** view right alongside your library. You can create as many independent notebooks as you like, customize their page colors, and keep your intellectual reflections neatly organized without leaving your reading sanctuary.

To start a new notebook, ensure you have:

• **Platforms**: GemReader installed on your device (Android or iOS). • **Prerequisites**: Open the app to the main screen. • **Connection**: 100% offline (notebook entries are stored securely in your private local app storage).

1. Open GemReader and tap the **Notes** tab in the bottom navigation bar, then select **Notebooks**. 2. Tap the plus button (**+**) or tap **New notebook**. 3. Type a meaningful title for your notebook (such as *Philosophy Seminar*, *2026 Reading Reflections*, or *Research Commonplace*). 4. Select a page shade from the available palettes. 5. Tap **Save** to create your notebook. 6. Tap the notebook to open it, then tap **New page** to begin writing.

• **Side-by-Side Reading**: On tablets and wide screens, open your book and tap split view to place your notebook page right beside your text as you read. • **Locking a Notebook with a PIN**: If a notebook contains sensitive personal thoughts or research notes, you can tap **Set notebook PIN** to protect it on device with an encrypted PIN. • **Loose Pages**: For quick fleeting thoughts that do not belong to a specific volume, you can keep unfiled entries under loose pages until you decide where to file them.