diff --git a/include/manager.h b/include/manager.h
index 13fe19f10..6171f2ebd 100644
--- a/include/manager.h
+++ b/include/manager.h
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ class Manager
    * Sync the contents of the library with one or more `library.xml` files.
    *
    * The metadata of the library files is trusted unconditionally.
+   * Any books not present in the input library.xml files are removed
+   * from the library.
    *
    * @param paths The (utf8) paths to the `library.xml` files.
    */
diff --git a/src/manager.cpp b/src/manager.cpp
index b65353542..e01b38ce9 100644
--- a/src/manager.cpp
+++ b/src/manager.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ bool Manager::readBookmarkFile(const std::string& path)
 
 void Manager::reload(const Paths& paths)
 {
+  const auto libRevision = manipulator->getLibrary().getRevision();
   for (std::string path : paths) {
     if (!path.empty()) {
       if ( kiwix::isRelativePath(path) )
@@ -301,6 +302,10 @@ void Manager::reload(const Paths& paths)
       }
     }
   }
+
+  // XXX: must remove the books via manipulator, otherwise the event
+  // XXX: may go unnoticed
+  manipulator->getLibrary().removeBooksNotUpdatedSince(libRevision);
 }
 
 }