diff --git a/src/calibre/db/backend.py b/src/calibre/db/backend.py
index e7af550f0b..75fc8cb771 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/backend.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/backend.py
@@ -1456,6 +1456,15 @@ class DB:
             self.user_version = 1
     # }}}
 
+    def clone_for_readonly_access(self, dest_dir: str) -> str:
+        dbpath = os.path.abspath(self.conn.db_filename('main'))
+        clone_db_path = os.path.join(dest_dir, os.path.basename(dbpath))
+        shutil.copy2(dbpath, clone_db_path)
+        notes_dir = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(dbpath), NOTES_DIR_NAME)
+        if os.path.exists(notes_dir):
+            shutil.copytree(notes_dir, os.path.join(dest_dir, NOTES_DIR_NAME))
+        return clone_db_path
+
     def normpath(self, path):
         path = os.path.abspath(os.path.realpath(path))
         if not self.is_case_sensitive:
diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index 8bd77968b3..6a76c5e852 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -3513,6 +3513,10 @@ class Cache:
                         dest_value.extend(src_value)
                     self._set_field(field, {dest_id: dest_value})
 
+    @read_api
+    def clone_for_readonly_access(self, dest_dir: str) -> str:
+        return self.backend.clone_for_readonly_access(dest_dir)
+
 
 def import_library(library_key, importer, library_path, progress=None, abort=None):
     from calibre.db.backend import DB
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py b/src/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py
index 9791bd5873..ce21d3f4ee 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/convert/gui_conversion.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def gui_convert_override(input, output, recommendations, notification=DummyRepor
 
 
 def gui_catalog(library_path, temp_db_path, fmt, title, dbspec, ids, out_file_name, sync, fmt_options, connected_device,
-        notification=DummyReporter(), log=None):
+    notification=DummyReporter(), log=None):
     if log is None:
         log = Log()
     from calibre.utils.config import prefs
@@ -50,31 +50,36 @@ def gui_catalog(library_path, temp_db_path, fmt, title, dbspec, ids, out_file_na
     # Open the temp database created while still in the GUI thread
     from calibre.db.legacy import LibraryDatabase
     db = LibraryDatabase(library_path, temp_db_path=temp_db_path)
-    db.catalog_plugin_on_device_temp_mapping = dbspec
+    try:
+        db.catalog_plugin_on_device_temp_mapping = dbspec
 
-    # Create a minimal OptionParser that we can append to
-    parser = OptionParser()
-    args = []
-    parser.add_option('--verbose', action='store_true', dest='verbose', default=True)
-    opts, args = parser.parse_args()
+        # Create a minimal OptionParser that we can append to
+        parser = OptionParser()
+        args = []
+        parser.add_option('--verbose', action='store_true', dest='verbose', default=True)
+        opts, args = parser.parse_args()
 
-    # Populate opts
-    # opts.gui_search_text = something
-    opts.catalog_title = title
-    opts.connected_device = connected_device
-    opts.ids = ids
-    opts.search_text = None
-    opts.sort_by = None
-    opts.sync = sync
+        # Populate opts
+        # opts.gui_search_text = something
+        opts.catalog_title = title
+        opts.connected_device = connected_device
+        opts.ids = ids
+        opts.search_text = None
+        opts.sort_by = None
+        opts.sync = sync
 
-    # Extract the option dictionary to comma-separated lists
-    for option in fmt_options:
-        if isinstance(fmt_options[option],list):
-            setattr(opts, option, ','.join(fmt_options[option]))
-        else:
-            setattr(opts, option, fmt_options[option])
+        # Extract the option dictionary to comma-separated lists
+        for option in fmt_options:
+            if isinstance(fmt_options[option],list):
+                setattr(opts, option, ','.join(fmt_options[option]))
+            else:
+                setattr(opts, option, fmt_options[option])
 
-    # Fetch and run the plugin for fmt
-    # Returns 0 if successful, 1 if no catalog built
-    plugin = plugin_for_catalog_format(fmt)
-    return plugin.run(out_file_name, opts, db, notification=notification)
+        # Fetch and run the plugin for fmt
+        # Returns 0 if successful, 1 if no catalog built
+        plugin = plugin_for_catalog_format(fmt)
+        return plugin.run(out_file_name, opts, db, notification=notification)
+    finally:
+        import shutil
+        db.close()
+        shutil.rmtree(os.path.dirname(temp_db_path))
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py
index 6f699e8076..ca6b2f31f9 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ Logic for setting up conversion jobs
 '''
 
 import os
-import shutil
 
 from qt.core import QDialog, QProgressDialog, QTimer
 
@@ -376,18 +375,12 @@ def generate_catalog(parent, dbspec, ids, device_manager, db):  # {{{
     # process. The backend looks for the notes directory (.calnotes) in the
     # directory containing the metadata.db file. Copy the one from the current
     # library.
-    from calibre.gui2.ui import get_gui
-    library_path = get_gui().current_db.library_path
-    temp_db_directory = PersistentTemporaryDirectory('_callib')
-    temp_db_path = os.path.join(temp_db_directory, 'metadata.db')
-    shutil.copy(os.path.join(library_path, 'metadata.db'), temp_db_directory)
-    notes_dir = os.path.join(library_path, '.calnotes')
-    if os.path.exists(notes_dir):
-        shutil.copytree(notes_dir, os.path.join(temp_db_directory, '.calnotes'))
+    temp_db_directory = PersistentTemporaryDirectory('callib')
+    temp_db_path = db.new_api.clone_for_readonly_access(temp_db_directory)
 
     # These args are passed inline to gui2.convert.gui_conversion:gui_catalog
     args = [
-        library_path,
+        db.library_path,
         temp_db_path,
         d.catalog_format,
         d.catalog_title,