diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/code.py b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
index 0cef6bde2f..89b72d49df 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/code.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ def get_basic_query_data(ctx, rd):
         sorts, orders = ['timestamp'], ['desc']
     return library_id, db, sorts, orders
 
+
 _cached_translations = None
 
 
@@ -82,17 +83,11 @@ def get_translations():
                 _cached_translations = load_json_file(zf.open(lang, 'r'))
     return _cached_translations
 
+
 DEFAULT_NUMBER_OF_BOOKS = 50
 
 
-@endpoint('/interface-data/init', postprocess=json)
-def interface_data(ctx, rd):
-    '''
-    Return the data needed to create the server main UI
-
-    Optional: ?num=50&sort=timestamp.desc&library_id=<default library>
-              &search=''&extra_books=''
-    '''
+def basic_interface_data(ctx, rd):
     ans = {
         'username':rd.username,
         'output_format':prefs['output_format'].upper(),
@@ -103,8 +98,30 @@ def interface_data(ctx, rd):
         'use_roman_numerals_for_series_number': get_use_roman(),
         'translations': get_translations(),
         'allow_console_print':getattr(rd.opts, 'allow_console_print', False),
+        'icon_map': icon_map(),
+        'icon_path': ctx.url_for('/icon', which=''),
     }
-    ans['library_map'], ans['default_library'] = ctx.library_info(rd)
+    ans['library_map'], ans['default_library_id'] = ctx.library_info(rd)
+    return ans
+
+
+@endpoint('/interface-data/update', postprocess=json)
+def update_interface_data(ctx, rd):
+    '''
+    Return the interface data needed for the server UI
+    '''
+    return basic_interface_data(ctx, rd)
+
+
+@endpoint('/interface-data/init', postprocess=json)
+def interface_data(ctx, rd):
+    '''
+    Return the data needed to create the server UI as well as a list of books.
+
+    Optional: ?num=50&sort=timestamp.desc&library_id=<default library>
+              &search=''&extra_books=''
+    '''
+    ans = basic_interface_data(ctx, rd)
     ud = {}
     if rd.username:
         # Override session data with stored values for the authenticated user,
@@ -133,8 +150,6 @@ def interface_data(ctx, rd):
             sanitize_sort_field_name(db.field_metadata, k), v) for k, v in sf.iteritems()),
                                         key=lambda (field, name):sort_key(name))
         ans['field_metadata'] = db.field_metadata.all_metadata()
-        ans['icon_map'] = icon_map()
-        ans['icon_path'] = ctx.url_for('/icon', which='')
         mdata = ans['metadata'] = {}
         try:
             extra_books = set(int(x) for x in rd.query.get('extra_books', '').split(','))
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj
index 114f09af1a..429cf67ed9 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/home.pyj
@@ -2,11 +2,30 @@
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2017, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 from __python__ import hash_literals, bound_methods
 
+from dom import ensure_id
+from elementmaker import E
+
+from book_list.globals import get_db
 from book_list.top_bar import create_top_bar
 from book_list.ui import set_default_panel_handler
 
 
+def show_recent():
+    db = get_db()
+    if not db.initialized:
+        window.setTimeout(show_recent.bind(this), 5)
+        return
+    container = document.getElementById(this)
+    if not container:
+        return
+
+
 def init(container_id):
     create_top_bar(container_id, run_animation=True)
+    container = document.getElementById(container_id)
+    recent = E.div(style='display:none')
+    recent_container_id = ensure_id(recent)
+    container.appendChild(recent)
+    window.setTimeout(show_recent.bind(recent_container_id), 5)
 
 set_default_panel_handler(init)
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj
index 26c49c94f8..c36b0dcf6b 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/main.pyj
@@ -102,11 +102,20 @@ def load_interface_data():
     ajax('interface-data/init', on_data_loaded, on_data_load_progress, query=query).send()
 
 
+def on_update_interface_data():
+    ajax('interface-data/update', def (end_type, xhr, ev):
+        if end_type is 'load':
+            data = JSON.parse(xhr.responseText)
+            update_interface_data(data)
+    ).send()
+
+
 def main():
-    if get_interface_data().is_default:
+    interface_data = get_interface_data()
+    if interface_data.is_default or not interface_data.library_map:
         load_interface_data()
     else:
-        interface_data = get_interface_data()
         sd = UserSessionData(interface_data.username, interface_data.user_session_data)
         set_session_data(sd)
+        on_update_interface_data()
         init_ui()
diff --git a/src/pyj/session.pyj b/src/pyj/session.pyj
index 18fdfac65c..191c23a9d8 100644
--- a/src/pyj/session.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/session.pyj
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ default_interface_data = {
     'gui_last_modified_display_format': 'dd MMM yyyy',
     'use_roman_numerals_for_series_number': True,
     'allow_console_print':False,
+    'default_library_id': None,
+    'library_map': None,
 }
 
 def get_interface_data():