diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
index a3ae5b77aa..47f118c0c2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
@@ -166,7 +166,8 @@ class LibraryWidget(Splitter): # {{{
                 I('cover_flow.svg'),
                 orientation=orientation, parent=parent,
                 connect_button=not config['separate_cover_flow'],
-                side_index=idx, initial_side_size=size, initial_show=False)
+                side_index=idx, initial_side_size=size, initial_show=False,
+                shortcut=_('Shift+Alt+B'))
         parent.library_view = BooksView(parent)
         parent.library_view.setObjectName('library_view')
         self.addWidget(parent.library_view)
@@ -181,7 +182,8 @@ class Stack(QStackedWidget): # {{{
         self.tb_widget = TagBrowserWidget(parent)
         parent.tb_splitter = Splitter('tag_browser_splitter',
                 _('Tag Browser'), I('tags.svg'),
-                parent=parent, side_index=0, initial_side_size=200)
+                parent=parent, side_index=0, initial_side_size=200,
+                shortcut=_('Shift+Alt+T'))
         parent.tb_splitter.addWidget(self.tb_widget)
         parent.tb_splitter.addWidget(parent.cb_splitter)
         parent.tb_splitter.setCollapsible(parent.tb_splitter.other_index, False)
@@ -274,7 +276,8 @@ class LayoutMixin(object): # {{{
             self.stack = Stack(self)
             self.bd_splitter = Splitter('book_details_splitter',
                     _('Book Details'), I('book.svg'),
-                    orientation=Qt.Vertical, parent=self, side_index=1)
+                    orientation=Qt.Vertical, parent=self, side_index=1,
+                    shortcut=_('Alt+D'))
             self.bd_splitter.addWidget(self.stack)
             self.bd_splitter.addWidget(self.book_details)
             self.bd_splitter.setCollapsible(self.bd_splitter.other_index, False)
@@ -283,7 +286,8 @@ class LayoutMixin(object): # {{{
         else: # wide {{{
             self.bd_splitter = Splitter('book_details_splitter',
                     _('Book Details'), I('book.svg'), initial_side_size=200,
-                    orientation=Qt.Horizontal, parent=self, side_index=1)
+                    orientation=Qt.Horizontal, parent=self, side_index=1,
+                    shortcut=_('Shift+Alt+D'))
             self.stack = Stack(self)
             self.bd_splitter.addWidget(self.stack)
             self.book_details = BookDetails(True, self)
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
index 994fa4575f..54cb526750 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/widgets.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Miscellaneous widgets used in the GUI
 '''
 import re, os, traceback
 
-from PyQt4.Qt import QIcon, QFont, QLabel, QListWidget, \
+from PyQt4.Qt import QIcon, QFont, QLabel, QListWidget, QAction, \
                         QListWidgetItem, QTextCharFormat, QApplication, \
                         QSyntaxHighlighter, QCursor, QColor, QWidget, \
                         QPixmap, QSplitterHandle, QToolButton, \
@@ -855,7 +855,7 @@ class SplitterHandle(QSplitterHandle):
 
 class LayoutButton(QToolButton):
 
-    def __init__(self, icon, text, splitter, parent=None):
+    def __init__(self, icon, text, splitter, parent=None, shortcut=None):
         QToolButton.__init__(self, parent)
         self.label = text
         self.setIcon(QIcon(icon))
@@ -864,18 +864,21 @@ class LayoutButton(QToolButton):
         self.splitter = splitter
         splitter.state_changed.connect(self.update_state)
         self.setCursor(Qt.PointingHandCursor)
+        self.shortcut = ''
+        if shortcut:
+            self.shortcut = shortcut
 
     def set_state_to_show(self, *args):
         self.setChecked(False)
         label =_('Show')
-        self.setText(label + ' ' + self.label)
+        self.setText(label + ' ' + self.label + ' ' + self.shortcut)
         self.setToolTip(self.text())
         self.setStatusTip(self.text())
 
     def set_state_to_hide(self, *args):
         self.setChecked(True)
         label = _('Hide')
-        self.setText(label + ' ' + self.label)
+        self.setText(label + ' ' + self.label+ ' ' + self.shortcut)
         self.setToolTip(self.text())
         self.setStatusTip(self.text())
 
@@ -891,7 +894,7 @@ class Splitter(QSplitter):
 
     def __init__(self, name, label, icon, initial_show=True,
             initial_side_size=120, connect_button=True,
-            orientation=Qt.Horizontal, side_index=0, parent=None):
+            orientation=Qt.Horizontal, side_index=0, parent=None, shortcut=None):
         QSplitter.__init__(self, parent)
         self.resize_timer = QTimer(self)
         self.resize_timer.setSingleShot(True)
@@ -906,10 +909,21 @@ class Splitter(QSplitter):
         self.initial_side_size = initial_side_size
         self.initial_show = initial_show
         self.splitterMoved.connect(self.splitter_moved, type=Qt.QueuedConnection)
-        self.button = LayoutButton(icon, label, self)
+        self.button = LayoutButton(icon, label, self, shortcut=shortcut)
         if connect_button:
             self.button.clicked.connect(self.double_clicked)
 
+        if shortcut is not None:
+            self.action_toggle = QAction(QIcon(icon), _('Toggle') + ' ' + label,
+                    self)
+            self.action_toggle.triggered.connect(self.toggle_triggered)
+            self.action_toggle.setShortcut(shortcut)
+            if parent is not None:
+                parent.addAction(self.action_toggle)
+
+    def toggle_triggered(self, *args):
+        self.toggle_side_pane()
+
     def createHandle(self):
         return SplitterHandle(self.orientation(), self)