How to prepare viewing lists for librarians in 2026

A plain guide for librarians to prepare viewing lists for patrons, with steps, the tools to try and the mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-16

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

A viewing list is the set of videos a patron can watch for one topic, ready in a clear order. Prepare it by picking the right titles, noting the details of each one, and checking the order before you share it.

Option	What it does for the list
Paper list or sticky note	You rank and order by hand
Spreadsheet	You sort by a length column you fill in
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]

What you need before you start

Preparing a viewing list takes only a few things.

A purpose for the list. Know what the list is for, such as a topic a patron asked about or a program the library is running. It decides which videos go in.
Candidate videos to choose from. Search the library's own catalogue and free video sites for titles that fit. Note where each one plays.
The length of each video. Viewing time matters to patrons, so write down how long each video runs. The site where it plays usually shows this.
A place to keep the list. A paper list or a spreadsheet both work. What matters is that the list lives in one place.
The playlist, when the list is a YouTube playlist. If the final list is meant to be watched in a set order, putting it in a playlist the library owns helps.

Set aside a short block before you compile. Preparing a list while a patron waits tends to be rushed and uneven.

Step by step

These steps work with any tool, including a pen and a sheet of paper.

Clarify what the list is for. Write down who it is for and what they need, such as a children's storytime or a local history module.
Gather candidate videos. Look through the library's catalogue and free video sites for titles that fit the purpose.
Check each video before adding it. Confirm the video still plays and that the title and description match what the list claims.
Note the basic details. For each video, write the title, where it plays, and how long it runs.
Order the list for the person using it. Short videos first can suit a limited time. A course that builds lesson by lesson should keep dependent lessons together.
Mark anything a patron must check. Note age ratings, captions, or whether subtitles are available, where the source states them.
Check the list before you finish. Read it once from top to bottom and look for a title in the wrong place or a video that no longer fits.
Apply the order. For a YouTube playlist the library owns, use a tool that reorders it, or reorder by hand.
Share the list in the form the patron wants. A printout, a link, or the playlist itself all work.
Keep a copy. Save the list so you can reuse or update it later.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. Here are options to consider.

Paper list or sticky note. You write each title and the details and rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits because it depends on what you already own.

A spreadsheet. A column for the title, a column for length and a sort on the length column gives you an ordered list. Check how it behaves on your phone if you plan to use it away from your desk. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not provided here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site. YTSort is one option. Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It does this by sending requests to YouTube's own system using your existing session, with no dragging or scrolling. ^[1] After it sorts, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. ^[1] It sorts the full playlist, not just the videos loaded on screen. ^[1]

It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] It shows total, average, shortest and longest duration for the playlist. ^[1] It exports position, title, duration and URL of every video to a CSV file. ^[1]

You can get YTSort through a bookmark, a browser script, or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1] YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Recommending a video you have not checked. Confirm the video still plays and that it fits the request before it goes on the list.

Trusting the order without a look. Read the new list once before you finish. A quick check catches a title that ended up in an odd spot.

Forgetting the length. Viewing time matters to patrons, so keep the length with each title.

Ordering a course out of sequence. If later videos rely on earlier ones, a pure shortest-first order can leave a patron confused. Keep dependent lessons together.

Trying to reorder a playlist that is not the library's. Check whose account owns the playlist first.

Never updating the list. Videos get removed and new ones appear, so review the list before each share.

Frequently asked questions

Is YTSort free for librarians?

YTSort is free, and all install options include the same features. ^[1] It is free, open-source software under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] It can sort only videos within a length range and move the rest to the end, which can suit a patron with limited time. ^[1]

Can YTSort reorder a playlist the library does not own?

YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

Which browsers work with YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge, and the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1] A bookmark that runs it is another way to get it. ^[1]

Can the new playlist order be checked before it is applied?

With YTSort, yes. It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] With a paper list or spreadsheet, you see the order as you write it, so read it through once before you share it with a patron.

How do librarians prepare a viewing list for a patron?

Clarify what the patron needs, gather candidate videos, check each one, note the title and length, order the list for the person using it, and read it once before you share. Where the list is a library-owned YouTube playlist, YTSort can reorder it by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

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

Try YTSort

Sources

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