Reader MCP Server

Connect your Readwise Reader library to LLMs.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Reader MCP server?

Connect your Readwise Reader library to LLMs. Exposed over MCP by the reader mcp server, that capability becomes something an assistant can invoke while it works, not something you go and do afterwards.

What it actually does

This repository also includes a standalone skill for interacting with Readwise Reader API directly via HTTP requests. The skill provides knowledge and examples for using the Reader API without requiring an MCP server.

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that seamlessly integrates with your Readwise Reader library. This server enables MCP-compatible clients like Claude and VS Code to interact with your Reader library, providing capabilities for document listing, retrieval, and updates. It serves as a bridge between MCP clients and your personal knowledge repository in Readwise Reader.

  • List, create, update, and delete documents
  • Full API coverage (list, save, update, delete, tags, bulk operations)
  • Authentication and rate limit guidance
  • Code examples in Python

Its toolset

Everything the assistant can do here goes through one of these:

  • list_documents — List documents from Reader with flexible filtering and pagination
  • Input — **
  • Returns — **
  • Tools — The Tools tool exposed by this server
  • Features — The Features tool exposed by this server
  • Installation — For more information on installing and using skills, see the Vercel Labs Skills documentation
  • Usage — Once installed, the skill will be automatically triggered when you ask about Readwise Reader, saving articles, or managing your reading list

Adding it to your client

skills on npm is all you need. Most clients run it directly, so configuration is a few lines and a restart.

Configuration

You will need one environment variable: READWISE_ACCESS_TOKEN. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

When to reach for it

Plenty of cloud and infrastructure servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. Reader's toolset — list_documents, Input, Returns and 4 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by xinthink; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Caveats

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the reader mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
list_documentsList documents from Reader with flexible filtering and pagination.
Input**
Returns**
ToolsThe Tools tool exposed by this server.
FeaturesThe Features tool exposed by this server.
InstallationFor more information on installing and using skills, see the [Vercel Labs Skills documentation](https://github.com/vercel-labs/skills).
UsageOnce installed, the skill will be automatically triggered when you ask about Readwise Reader, saving articles, or managing your reading list.

How to install the Reader MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "reader": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "/absolute/path/to/your/reader/server",
        "run",
        "main.py"
      ],
      "env": {
        "READWISE_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your-token-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
READWISE_ACCESS_TOKENCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Reader to list documents.
  • Use Reader to Input.
  • Use Reader to Returns.

Frequently asked questions

The server runs on Python using `uv` as the package manager.