How to organize a shared movie library for private media groups in 2026

Learn how private media groups can organize a shared movie library with request rules, workflows, and tools that connect to existing setups.

By VLClean · 2026-10-15

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Private media groups can organize a shared movie library by choosing a request method, setting rules for additions, and keeping the path from requests to library updates clear.

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1]	The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]
Request form	People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form.	not published
Shared request list	People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.	not published

What you need before you start

Private media groups should decide how people will suggest movies and shows before opening requests. Make clear who can send requests, who reviews them, and what types of titles fit the library.

Prepare the current library workflow so requested titles have a clear path from an idea to an available movie or show. Decide whether requests are added automatically or reviewed before they become part of the collection.

Keep the rules easy to find. A short guide can explain what people can request, how they should search for titles, and where they can check request updates.

If Radarr and Sonarr are part of the library process, have them ready before connecting a request method. Radarr and Sonarr are helper programs that can find and add movies and shows to a library.

Step by step

Choose one place where members of the group will send movie and show requests. A single request location helps avoid scattered messages and missing ideas.

Write the request rules before sharing access. Include who can submit titles, what content is accepted, and whether requests need approval before being added.

Decide how the library workflow handles approved requests. Make sure everyone involved understands who manages additions and who checks the final result.

Share instructions with the group. Explain how to search for titles, how to submit requests, and where people can see progress.

Review incoming requests on a regular schedule. Remove requests that do not fit the library rules and keep the remaining list organized.

Update the process after people use it. Questions from group members can show where instructions need to be clearer.

Keep account and access details in mind when choosing a request method. Check what information a tool uses and what permissions are needed before inviting other people.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1]

You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1]

Askarr can show when a title was added and downloaded through reports from Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find a title. ^[1]

A request form can be another option for collecting movie and show ideas. Check how the form handles submissions, reviews, and updates before choosing it.

A shared request list can also be used to collect movie and show ideas. Check how the list handles organization, approvals, and movement into the library workflow before choosing it.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a request method without explaining the rules. Group members need to know what can be requested and who decides what gets added.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the library. The request process should be clear for both people sending titles and people managing the collection.

Avoid leaving old requests without review. A request list can become harder to manage when items are not checked regularly.

Avoid skipping privacy checks. Review what information a tool uses and what access it requires before sharing it with other people.

Frequently asked questions

How can private media groups organize a shared movie library?

A private media group can choose a request method, set rules for additions, and explain how members should submit titles. The process works best when people know where requests go, who reviews them, and how approved movies and shows move into the library workflow.

Can Askarr help organize requests for a shared movie library?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] Askarr can be considered when a group wants a request page connected to an existing workflow.

Does Askarr require changes to the current library setup?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Check the current library process before choosing a request method.

How do people find movies and shows to request with Askarr?

People can request a movie or show on Askarr, and the connected Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find a title. ^[1] This gives members another way to locate titles before requesting them.

What should be checked before choosing a shared library request tool?

Check how a tool handles title searches, approvals, updates, and the path from requests to library additions. Askarr plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the shared library is managed before choosing a request method.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]

Try Askarr

Sources

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