Library

The Library is a file storage area within your Backdrop account. Unlike archives which are captured from the web, the Library lets you upload your own files — images, videos, audio recordings, documents, and PDFs. This makes Backdrop a central repository for all your research materials, not just web pages.

Library items can be organized alongside your archives in collections, tagged with entities, and searched just like any other content.

The Library supports common file formats across several categories:

• Images — PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, and other standard image formats.
• Video — MP4, WebM, and other common video formats.
• Audio — MP3, WAV, OGG, and other audio formats.
• Documents — text files, markdown files, and other document types.
• PDFs — full PDF documents with preview support.

If you have a file type that is not listed, check the upload page for the most current list of supported formats.

You can upload files directly from the Library page using drag and drop or the file picker. Simply drag files from your computer into the upload area, or click to browse and select files. Multiple files can be uploaded at once.

Each uploaded file is processed and made available for viewing, downloading, or embedding in collections. File processing time depends on the file size and type.

For audio files, Backdrop supports marking named segments within the recording. This is useful for interviews, podcasts, lectures, or any long audio file where you want to identify specific sections. Each segment has a name, start time, and end time, making it easy to navigate to the exact part of the audio you need.

Audio segments are displayed alongside the audio player and can be clicked to jump directly to that point in the recording.

Each library item can have an associated markdown note. This allows you to write rich descriptions, transcriptions, summaries, or analysis alongside any file. The markdown is rendered with formatting when viewed, and its content is included in full-text search.

Files you upload to the Library count toward your overall storage limit, which varies depending on your plan. The Library page shows your current storage usage broken down by file type. If you need more storage, you can upgrade your plan or add storage addons from the Billing page.