diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
index 5c0b5ec71e..22e26d5981 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
@@ -595,6 +595,8 @@ class BooksView(QTableView):  # {{{
         if len(self.column_map) > 0 and self.was_restored:
             state = self.get_state()
             self.write_state(state)
+            if self.is_library_view:
+                self.pin_view.save_state()
 
     def cleanup_sort_history(self, sort_history, ignore_column_map=False):
         history = []
@@ -750,6 +752,9 @@ class BooksView(QTableView):  # {{{
             old_state['sort_history'] = sh
             max_levels = max(3, len(sh))
 
+        if self.is_library_view:
+            self.pin_view.restore_state()
+
         self.column_header.blockSignals(True)
         self.apply_state(old_state, max_sort_levels=max_levels)
         self.column_header.blockSignals(False)
@@ -766,7 +771,10 @@ class BooksView(QTableView):  # {{{
         # Resize all rows to have the correct height
         if not self.row_sizing_done and self.model().rowCount(QModelIndex()) > 0:
             vh = self.verticalHeader()
-            vh.setDefaultSectionSize(max(vh.minimumSectionSize(), self.default_row_height + gprefs['book_list_extra_row_spacing']))
+            h = max(vh.minimumSectionSize(), self.default_row_height + gprefs['book_list_extra_row_spacing'])
+            vh.setDefaultSectionSize(h)
+            if self.is_library_view:
+                self.pin_view.verticalHeader().setDefaultSectionSize(h)
             self._model.set_row_height(self.rowHeight(0))
             self.row_sizing_done = True
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py b/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py
index a27ad5bb5a..4034475da3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/pin_columns.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function, unicode_litera
 
 from PyQt5.Qt import QSplitter, QTableView
 
+from calibre.gui2.library import DEFAULT_SORT
+
 
 class PinTableView(QTableView):
 
@@ -14,12 +16,106 @@ class PinTableView(QTableView):
         self.books_view = books_view
         self.verticalHeader().close()
 
+    @property
+    def column_map(self):
+        return self.books_view.column_map
+
     def set_context_menu(self, menu):
         self.context_menu = menu
 
     def contextMenuEvent(self, event):
         self.books_view.show_context_menu(self.context_menu, event)
 
+    def get_default_state(self):
+        old_state = {
+            'hidden_columns': ['last_modified', 'languages'],
+            'sort_history':[DEFAULT_SORT],
+            'column_positions': {},
+            'column_sizes': {},
+        }
+        h = self.column_header
+        cm = self.column_map
+        for i in range(h.count()):
+            name = cm[i]
+            old_state['column_positions'][name] = i
+            if name != 'ondevice':
+                old_state['column_sizes'][name] = \
+                    min(350, max(self.sizeHintForColumn(i),
+                        h.sectionSizeHint(i)))
+                if name in ('timestamp', 'last_modified'):
+                    old_state['column_sizes'][name] += 12
+        return old_state
+
+    def apply_state(self, state):
+        h = self.column_header
+        cmap = {}
+        hidden = state.get('hidden_columns', [])
+        for i, c in enumerate(self.column_map):
+            cmap[c] = i
+            if c != 'ondevice':
+                h.setSectionHidden(i, c in hidden)
+
+        positions = state.get('column_positions', {})
+        pmap = {}
+        for col, pos in positions.items():
+            if col in cmap:
+                pmap[pos] = col
+        for pos in sorted(pmap.keys()):
+            col = pmap[pos]
+            idx = cmap[col]
+            current_pos = h.visualIndex(idx)
+            if current_pos != pos:
+                h.moveSection(current_pos, pos)
+
+        # Because of a bug in Qt 5 we have to ensure that the header is actually
+        # relaid out by changing this value, without this sometimes ghost
+        # columns remain visible when changing libraries
+        for i in xrange(h.count()):
+            val = h.isSectionHidden(i)
+            h.setSectionHidden(i, not val)
+            h.setSectionHidden(i, val)
+
+        sizes = state.get('column_sizes', {})
+        for col, size in sizes.items():
+            if col in cmap:
+                sz = sizes[col]
+                if sz < 3:
+                    sz = h.sectionSizeHint(cmap[col])
+                h.resizeSection(cmap[col], sz)
+
+        for i in range(h.count()):
+            if not h.isSectionHidden(i) and h.sectionSize(i) < 3:
+                sz = h.sectionSizeHint(i)
+                h.resizeSection(i, sz)
+
+    def get_state(self):
+        h = self.column_header
+        cm = self.column_map
+        state = {}
+        state['hidden_columns'] = [cm[i] for i in range(h.count())
+                if h.isSectionHidden(i) and cm[i] != 'ondevice']
+        state['column_positions'] = {}
+        state['column_sizes'] = {}
+        for i in range(h.count()):
+            name = cm[i]
+            state['column_positions'][name] = h.visualIndex(i)
+            if name != 'ondevice':
+                state['column_sizes'][name] = h.sectionSize(i)
+        return state
+
+    def save_state(self):
+        db = getattr(self.model(), 'db', None)
+        if db is not None:
+            state = self.get_state()
+            db.new_api.set_pref('books view split pane state', state)
+
+    def restore_state(self):
+        db = getattr(self.model(), 'db', None)
+        if db is not None:
+            state = db.prefs.get('books view split pane state', None)
+            if state:
+                self.apply_state(state)
+
 
 class PinContainer(QSplitter):