The French called them the bibliothèque bleue, or blue library, because of the color of their bindings. In England they were called chapbooks; and in Spain, pliégos de cordel.
Prantslased kutsusid neid nende sinise köite pärast bibliothèque bleue, tõlgituna ’ sinised raamatud ’ (Inglismaal kutsuti neid chapbooks ja Hispaanias pliégos de cordel).