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How to organize educational video collections for librarians in 2026

A plain guide for librarians to organize educational video collections, compare options and check what tools can do.

By XP Daily ยท

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Start by listing the videos, their lengths and the order needed for learning. Choose a method that matches how the collection is managed.

OptionHow it orders videosNotes
Paper list or notesA librarian ranks videos by hand.No tool details are provided here.
SpreadsheetA librarian sorts information using a length or other column.Check the spreadsheet service's own details for limits and cost.
YTSortReorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1]YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [1]

What you need before you start

Organizing educational video collections takes a clear list of what needs sorting and why.

Set aside time to review the collection before changing its order. A quick review can show whether videos need to stay together because of their teaching sequence.

Step by step

These steps can be used with manual methods or a tool.

  1. Open the collection details. Make sure the playlist or record is available before changing anything.
  2. List each video. Add the title, length and any notes that matter for the collection.
  3. Mark videos that need a fixed place. Some educational materials depend on earlier lessons, so keep related items together.
  4. Choose the ordering rule. Decide whether the collection should move shorter videos first or follow another teaching need.
  5. Create the new order. Move items by hand or use a tool that supports the chosen method.
  6. Review the result. Read through the new order before applying it to the collection.
  7. Apply the changes. Update the playlist or record after the order has been checked.
  8. Keep notes on the collection. Notes can help explain why items were placed in a certain order.
  9. Review after use. Change the order if it no longer helps the people using the collection.

Tools that can do it

Different options can help with different parts of organizing educational video collections.

Paper list or notes. A manual list lets a librarian write down titles and lengths and arrange them by hand.

A spreadsheet. A spreadsheet can hold video details in columns and help organize the information. Check the spreadsheet service's own details for limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. It is a free browser tool that reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. [1]

YTSort can reorder videos by sending requests to YouTube's own system using an existing session, without dragging or scrolling. [1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. [1] It sorts the full playlist, not only the videos loaded on screen. [1]

YTSort can show the before and after order so it can be checked before applying changes. [1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. [1] It can show total, average, shortest and longest video duration for the playlist. [1] It can export position, title, duration and URL of every video to a CSV file. [1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Changing a learning sequence without checking it. Educational collections may need videos to stay in a certain order.

Sorting without reviewing the result. Read the new order before applying changes so misplaced items can be found.

Ignoring long videos. If longer videos move later in the list, decide when they should be reviewed.

Organizing someone else's playlist without a plan. Check ownership and decide how the collection should be handled before changing it.

Keeping no record of changes. Notes can help explain why a collection was arranged in a certain way.

Frequently asked questions

How can YTSort organize educational video collections?

YTSort can reorder a YouTube playlist a library owns by video length, with the shortest or longest videos first. [1] It can help when the collection needs a duration-based order. The collection owner still decides whether that order works for the learning purpose.

Can YTSort check a playlist order before applying changes?

Yes. YTSort shows the before and after order so the new arrangement can be checked before it is applied. [1] This can help when reviewing an educational video collection before changing its visible order.

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The YTSort extension needs Chrome or Edge. [1] The script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. [1] YTSort can also be used through a bookmark that runs it. [1]

Is YTSort free for library video collections?

YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. [1] YTSort is also free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. [1] Check the collection needs before choosing any organizing method.

How can librarians choose a video collection organizing method?

Start with the type of order needed, such as a teaching sequence or a duration-based list. Manual lists, spreadsheets and YTSort are options to consider. YTSort can sort by video length, while other methods can be reviewed based on their own details and limits.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. [1]

Try YTSort

Sources

  1. YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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