diff --git a/src/common/kiwix/manager.cpp b/src/common/kiwix/manager.cpp
index a33794da4..dfe375d92 100644
--- a/src/common/kiwix/manager.cpp
+++ b/src/common/kiwix/manager.cpp
@@ -321,6 +321,16 @@ namespace kiwix {
     }
   }
 
+  unsigned int Manager::getBookCount(const bool localBooks, const bool remoteBooks) {
+    unsigned int result = 0;
+    std::vector<kiwix::Book>::iterator itr;
+    for ( itr = library.books.begin(); itr != library.books.end(); ++itr ) {
+      if (!itr->path.empty() && localBooks || itr->path.empty() && remoteBooks)
+	result++;
+    }
+    return result;
+  }
+
   bool Manager::listBooks(const supportedListMode mode) {
     this->bookIdList.clear();
     std::vector<kiwix::Book>::iterator itr;
diff --git a/src/common/kiwix/manager.h b/src/common/kiwix/manager.h
index 15806a168..89abd8829 100644
--- a/src/common/kiwix/manager.h
+++ b/src/common/kiwix/manager.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ namespace kiwix {
     bool addBookFromPath(const string path, const string url = "", const bool checkMetaData = false);
     Library cloneLibrary();
     bool getBookById(const string id, Book &book);
+    unsigned int getBookCount(const bool localBooks, const bool remoteBooks);
     bool updateBookLastOpenDateById(const string id);
     void removeBookPaths();
     bool listBooks(const supportedListMode);