diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
index 042e0c578d..223efcf95b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/init.py
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ class LibraryViewMixin(object): # {{{
 
     def __init__(self, db):
         self.library_view.files_dropped.connect(self.iactions['Add Books'].files_dropped, type=Qt.QueuedConnection)
+        self.library_view.add_column_signal.connect(partial(self.iactions['Preferences'].do_config,
+            initial_plugin=('Interface', 'Custom Columns')),
+                type=Qt.QueuedConnection)
         for func, args in [
                              ('connect_to_search_box', (self.search,
                                  self.search_done)),
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
index 966180467c..cfb2b53a4e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/views.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from calibre.gui2.library import DEFAULT_SORT
 class BooksView(QTableView): # {{{
 
     files_dropped = pyqtSignal(object)
+    add_column_signal = pyqtSignal()
 
     def __init__(self, parent, modelcls=BooksModel):
         QTableView.__init__(self, parent)
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ class BooksView(QTableView): # {{{
         self.selectionModel().currentRowChanged.connect(self._model.current_changed)
 
         # {{{ Column Header setup
+        self.can_add_columns = True
         self.was_restored = False
         self.column_header = self.horizontalHeader()
         self.column_header.setMovable(True)
@@ -93,6 +95,8 @@ class BooksView(QTableView): # {{{
             self.sortByColumn(idx, Qt.DescendingOrder)
         elif action == 'defaults':
             self.apply_state(self.get_default_state())
+        elif action == 'addcustcol':
+            self.add_column_signal.emit()
         elif action.startswith('align_'):
             alignment = action.partition('_')[-1]
             self._model.change_alignment(column, alignment)
@@ -166,6 +170,12 @@ class BooksView(QTableView): # {{{
                     partial(self.column_header_context_handler,
                         action='defaults', column=col))
 
+            if self.can_add_columns:
+                self.column_header_context_menu.addAction(
+                        _('Add your own columns'),
+                        partial(self.column_header_context_handler,
+                            action='addcustcol', column=col))
+
             self.column_header_context_menu.popup(self.column_header.mapToGlobal(pos))
     # }}}
 
@@ -494,6 +504,7 @@ class DeviceBooksView(BooksView): # {{{
 
     def __init__(self, parent):
         BooksView.__init__(self, parent, DeviceBooksModel)
+        self.can_add_columns = False
         self.columns_resized = False
         self.resize_on_select = False
         self.rating_delegate = None