How to notify viewers about additions for shared library hosts in 2026

Learn how shared library hosts can notify viewers about new additions with request tools, update methods, and setup checks.

By VLClean · 2026-10-25

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

Shared library hosts can notify viewers by choosing an update method, explaining what viewers should expect, and checking how each tool reports additions.

Option	Notification 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

Shared library hosts need a clear way to tell viewers when new movies or shows are available.

Decide which viewers should receive updates and what information the message should include. Keep the update format simple so viewers know where to look for new additions.

Prepare the library details that should be shared, such as whether updates are sent after every addition or collected into a regular message. Decide who will manage notifications and review the information before it is sent.

Choose where viewers will see updates. The choice can be a request tool, a message thread, a shared list, or another method that gives viewers a clear place to check additions. Prepare a simple message format before sending updates, so each addition notice has the same basic information. Decide whether viewers should receive updates immediately after additions or check a place where updates are collected.

Step by step

Pick one place where viewers will receive addition updates, such as a request website, a shared message thread, or another notification method.

Decide what details viewers need after a movie or show is added. Keep the message focused on the title and the information needed to find it.

Write a short note that explains how viewers will hear about additions and where they should look for future updates.

Choose a schedule for checking additions and sending updates. A regular process can make it easier for viewers to know when new information appears.

Connect the notification method to the way the library workflow already handles requested titles.

Review the update process after people start using it. Look for unclear instructions or missing information, then adjust the message format if needed.

Keep the update location easy to find by adding it to the instructions shared with viewers. Check that viewers know where to look when they want to see newly added titles.

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] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr can also show a request history with live status through its plans. ^[1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. ^[1]

Other choices can include a request form or a shared request list. Check how each option handles title updates, viewer notifications, and the movement of requests into the library workflow before choosing a method.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid sharing a notification method without explaining the rules. Viewers need to know where updates appear and what information they will receive.

Avoid choosing a tool without checking how it matches the current way additions are handled. The notification process should be clear for both the person managing the library and the people viewing updates.

Avoid forgetting to review old messages or lists. A notification process can become harder to follow when information is left without organization.

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

Frequently asked questions

How can shared library hosts notify viewers about additions?

A shared library host can choose a notification method, decide what information viewers should receive, and explain where updates will appear. The important parts are giving viewers a clear place to find additions and keeping the update process easy to follow.

Can Askarr show when a title was added?

Askarr has a webhook from Radarr and Sonarr that reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Askarr also has request history with live status in its plans. ^[1]

Does Askarr require changes to the library server?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; Askarr is added as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1]

How do viewers request titles with Askarr?

Viewers can request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] A TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link can also be pasted to find the title. ^[1]

What should be checked before choosing a notification tool?

Check how a tool handles requests, title searches, updates, and the process for adding movies and shows. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. ^[1] Compare those details with the way the shared library is managed before choosing a notification 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)