diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/code.py b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
index 8fb41281c5..8707d57bc2 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/code.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/code.py
@@ -118,6 +118,26 @@ def get_translations():
 DEFAULT_NUMBER_OF_BOOKS = 50
 
 
+def custom_list_template():
+    ans = getattr(custom_list_template, 'ans', None)
+    if ans is None:
+        ans = {
+            'thumbnail': True,
+            'thumbnail_height': 140,
+            'height': 'auto',
+            'comments_fields': ['comments'],
+            'lines': [
+                _('<b>{title}</b> by {authors}'),
+                _('{series_index} of <i>{series}</i>') + '|||{rating}',
+                '{tags}',
+                _('Date: {timestamp}') + '|||' + _('Published: {pubdate}') + '|||' + _('Publisher: {publisher}'),
+                '',
+            ]
+        }
+        custom_list_template.ans = ans
+    return ans
+
+
 def basic_interface_data(ctx, rd):
     ans = {
         'username': rd.username,
@@ -126,12 +146,12 @@ def basic_interface_data(ctx, rd):
                           for x in available_input_formats()},
         'gui_pubdate_display_format': tweaks['gui_pubdate_display_format'],
         'gui_timestamp_display_format': tweaks['gui_timestamp_display_format'],
-        'gui_last_modified_display_format':
-        tweaks['gui_last_modified_display_format'],
+        'gui_last_modified_display_format': tweaks['gui_last_modified_display_format'],
         'use_roman_numerals_for_series_number': get_use_roman(),
         'translations': get_translations(),
         'icon_map': icon_map(),
         'icon_path': ctx.url_for('/icon', which=''),
+        'custom_list_template': getattr(ctx, 'custom_list_template', None) or custom_list_template(),
     }
     ans['library_map'], ans['default_library_id'] = ctx.library_info(rd)
     return ans
diff --git a/src/pyj/book_list/custom_list.pyj b/src/pyj/book_list/custom_list.pyj
index 0ae7911dda..5605218c3c 100644
--- a/src/pyj/book_list/custom_list.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/book_list/custom_list.pyj
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from __python__ import bound_methods, hash_literals
 from elementmaker import E
 from gettext import gettext as _
 
-from book_list.details_list import THUMBNAIL_MAX_HEIGHT, sandbox_css, BORDER_RADIUS
+from book_list.details_list import sandbox_css, BORDER_RADIUS
 from book_list.library_data import library_data
 from date import format_date
 from dom import build_rule, clear, set_css, svgicon
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from utils import fmt_sidx, safe_set_inner_html, sandboxed_html
 
 CUSTOM_LIST_CLASS = 'book-list-custom-list'
 ITEM_CLASS = CUSTOM_LIST_CLASS + '-item'
-DESCRIPTION = _('A customizable list')
+DESCRIPTION = _('A customizable list (see Preferences->Sharing over the net->Book list template)')
 
 def custom_list_css():
     ans = ''
@@ -37,10 +37,11 @@ def custom_list_css():
 
 
 def default_template():
+    # Should never actually be needed
     if not default_template.ans:
         default_template.ans =  {
             'thumbnail': True,
-            'thumbnail_height': THUMBNAIL_MAX_HEIGHT,
+            'thumbnail_height': 140,
             'height': 'auto',
             'comments_fields': v"['comments']",
             'lines': [
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ def on_img_load(img, load_type):
 
 
 def create_item(book_id, metadata, create_image, show_book_details):
-    template = default_template()
+    template = get_interface_data().custom_list_template or default_template()
     text_data = render_template_text(template, book_id, metadata)
     text_data.style.flexGrow = '10'
     text_data.style.overflow = 'hidden'
diff --git a/src/pyj/session.pyj b/src/pyj/session.pyj
index 89c9d2bf10..bf04f35f37 100644
--- a/src/pyj/session.pyj
+++ b/src/pyj/session.pyj
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ default_interface_data = {
     'library_map': None,
     'icon_map': {},
     'icon_path': '',
+    'custom_list_template': None,
 }
 
 def get_interface_data():