How to monitor media library additions for media server administrators in 2026

Learn how media server administrators can track new library additions with request tools and review steps.

By VLClean · 2026-10-25

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

Media server administrators can monitor library additions by choosing a request workflow, tracking updates, and checking how titles move into the library.

Option	Option	Monitoring method	Cost details
Askarr	Search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. ^[1]	The site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[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.	Check the chosen form for new submissions.	not published
Shared request list	People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.	Review the chosen list for updates.	not published

What you need before you start

Make sure the media server workflow is already clear before adding a monitoring method. Decide which titles should be watched, who reviews additions, and where updates should be checked.

Prepare the tools that add movies and shows to the library if they are part of the workflow. Radarr and Sonarr are helper programs that many media server owners run to find and add movies and shows to a library.

Choose a place where requests or updates can be followed. The choice can be a request tool, a list, or another method that gives a clear view of new library additions.

Keep the monitoring rules simple. Decide who checks updates, what information matters, and how completed additions should be recognized.

Step by step

Choose one place to follow library additions and decide what information should be checked there.

Write down which person reviews requests or additions before titles enter the library.

Set clear rules for what should be monitored, such as requested titles, added titles, or download updates.

Connect the chosen monitoring method with the existing workflow used for adding movies and shows.

Check new activity on a regular schedule and confirm that additions match the expected process.

Update the instructions when the workflow changes so anyone involved knows where to look and what to review.

Review privacy and access settings before sharing a monitoring method with 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 can 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] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1]

Askarr also lets you paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. ^[1] Askarr plans include a request history with live status. ^[1]

Other monitoring methods can include forms, shared lists, or another chosen tracking method. Check how each option handles requests, updates, and the movement of titles into the library workflow before choosing one.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid choosing a monitoring method without checking how it fits the current way movies and shows are added to the library. The process should be clear for both the person managing the server and anyone sending requests.

Avoid sharing a request location without explaining what information people should provide and how updates will be handled.

Avoid forgetting to review activity after setup. A monitoring process should make it easier to follow additions instead of creating another unclear list.

Avoid skipping account and privacy checks. Review what information a tool asks for and what access it uses before sharing it with other people. Before choosing a monitoring method, compare how requests, title details, and updates are shown. A clear process can help keep library additions easier to review when the workflow changes. Check that everyone involved knows where to look for current information and how to follow the chosen process.

Frequently asked questions

How can media server administrators monitor library additions?

Media server administrators can choose a monitoring method, decide what updates matter, and create a clear process for reviewing additions. The important parts are knowing where requests appear, how titles move into the library workflow, and who checks that the process is working.

Can Askarr show when a movie or show was added?

Askarr can show when a title was added and downloaded through a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] These details can help administrators follow request progress and library changes.

Does Askarr require changes to the existing Radarr and Sonarr setup?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1]

How do users request movies and shows with Askarr?

Users can request a movie or show on Askarr, and the server owner's own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1] This gives users a way to send titles into the existing workflow.

What should be checked before choosing a library monitoring tool?

Check how a tool handles requests, updates, title searches, and the path from request to library addition. Askarr offers features such as request history with live status. ^[1] Compare those details with the current media server workflow before choosing a monitoring 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)