diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f88a3a9..1622361 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ Follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/) · versioned wi
 ---
 
 ## [Unreleased]
+### Changed
+- **Characters: global cast view in the sidebar, per-book characters inside Studio.** *Library > Characters / Cast* is now titled "All characters (all books)": one collapsible band per book (heading, per-book count, `aria-expanded`), first book open and the rest closed and not rendered until opened (DOM budget), and a *Search all books* field. Studio > Voices lists only the book picked in *Source*, under a "Book: <title>" chip with **Show characters of all books**; the Characters step shows the same chip; with no book picked Voices shows a prompt (Pick a book / show all books). Per-book actions stay in the band headers. Tests: `tests/characters-scope.spec.js`.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/Manual.md b/Manual.md
index 5915b52..561f661 100644
--- a/Manual.md
+++ b/Manual.md
@@ -199,6 +199,15 @@ locally against your own database; nothing is sent anywhere.
 
 ---
 
+### Characters: all books or one book
+
+**Purpose:** two views of the same character library, so you always know which book you are working in.
+
+- **All characters (all books)** (sidebar *Library > Characters / Cast*, or the Library *Cast* tab): every character of every book, one band per book with a heading and a count. The first book is open, the others are closed and only drawn when opened. *Search all books* (name, alias, archetype, book) opens every band with matches and shows "2 of 9". Cards/Table, Sort and every per-book action stay in each band header.
+- **Studio > Voices** (step 3): after you pick a book in *Source*, only that book's characters are shown, under a **Book: <title>** chip. **Show characters of all books** leads to the global view. The Characters step (2) shows the same chip. With no book picked, Voices offers **Pick a book** and the link to the global view instead of listing every book.
+
+**Errors:** if the book title cannot be read, the prompt to pick a book is shown. **Mobile/accessibility:** bands are headings with a show/hide button (`aria-expanded`); the search field is labelled; layouts fit 320 px. **Offline/privacy:** nothing new is sent; the view reads the local library.
+
 ## Magazines
 
 ### Purpose
diff --git a/static/js/library-characters.js b/static/js/library-characters.js
index 5a75d8e..d8f17dd 100644
--- a/static/js/library-characters.js
+++ b/static/js/library-characters.js
@@ -42,15 +42,37 @@ async function _libReviewVisualPairs(button, container) {
   }
 }
 
-async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
+let _libCharsCache = null;
+
+// Studio hands this view a single book (Voices step); the sidebar/Library entry
+// shows every book. The view is "scoped" exactly while #lib-chars-list is
+// borrowed into Studio's Voices slot, so leaving Studio always restores the
+// global view without any flag to reset.
+function _libShowAllBooks() {
+  if (typeof window.studioShowAllCharacters === 'function') window.studioShowAllCharacters();
+  else if (typeof window.navLibraryView === 'function') window.navLibraryView('characters');
+}
+
+function _libCharHaystack(rec) {
+  const sh = rec.sheet || {};
+  const parts = [rec.name, rec.form_name, rec.book, sh.archetype, sh.species, sh.real_name, sh.profession];
+  ['aliases', 'alias', 'also_known_as'].forEach(function (k) {
+    const v = sh[k];
+    if (Array.isArray(v)) parts.push(v.join(' ')); else if (v) parts.push(v);
+  });
+  return parts.filter(function (x) { return typeof x === 'string' || typeof x === 'number'; }).join(' ').toLowerCase();
+}
+
+async function libraryRenderCharacters(opts) {
   const container = document.getElementById('lib-chars-list');
   if (!container) return;
+  const useCache = !!(opts && opts.cached === true && _libCharsCache);
   const renderSeq = ++_libCharsRenderSeq;
 
   // This page can open before the shared voice library has finished loading.
   // Ratings live in window._voices, so rendering during that gap makes every
   // assigned voice look unrated even when its .meta.json still has a rating.
-  if ((!Array.isArray(window._voices) || !window._voices.length) && typeof loadVoiceLibrary === 'function') {
+  if (!useCache && (!Array.isArray(window._voices) || !window._voices.length) && typeof loadVoiceLibrary === 'function') {
     try { await loadVoiceLibrary(); } catch (e) { console.warn('[characters] voice library load failed', e); }
     if (renderSeq !== _libCharsRenderSeq) return;
   }
@@ -62,13 +84,15 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
   // while a bulk voice-design run elsewhere was mid-restart. Leave whatever
   // is already on screen alone and let the next real refresh fix it.
   let all = [];
-  try { all = (typeof clGetAll === 'function') ? await clGetAll() : []; }
+  if (useCache) all = _libCharsCache;
+  else try { all = (typeof clGetAll === 'function') ? await clGetAll() : []; }
   catch (e) {
     console.warn('[characters] load failed', e);
     if (typeof toast === 'function') toast('Failed to load characters — keeping the current view', 'error');
     return;
   }
   if (renderSeq !== _libCharsRenderSeq) return;
+  _libCharsCache = all;
 
   // Every action on this page (remove voice, auto-design, delete...) re-runs
   // this full rebuild via `refresh()`. Collapsing the container down to a
@@ -84,7 +108,24 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
 
   const byId = new Map(all.map(function (rec) { return [rec.id, rec]; }));
 
-  if (!all.length) {
+  const inStudio = !!container.closest('#stu-voices-slot');
+  const scopeBook = inStudio ? String(window._libCharsStudioBook || '') : '';
+  if (inStudio && !scopeBook) {
+    container.innerHTML = '<div class="lib-chars-scope-prompt card" role="status">'
+      + '<h3><span class="mdi mdi-book-open-page-variant-outline"></span> Pick a book first</h3>'
+      + '<p>Voices are assigned per book. Choose one of your uploaded books in the Source step, then come back here to see only its characters.</p>'
+      + '<div class="lib-chars-scope-actions">'
+      + '<button type="button" class="btn-primary btn-sm" id="lib-chars-pick-book"><span class="mdi mdi-file-document-outline"></span> Pick a book</button>'
+      + '<button type="button" class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="lib-chars-show-all"><span class="mdi mdi-bookshelf"></span> Show characters of all books</button>'
+      + '</div></div>';
+    container.querySelector('#lib-chars-pick-book').addEventListener('click', function () {
+      if (typeof window.showStudioPhase === 'function') window.showStudioPhase(1);
+    });
+    container.querySelector('#lib-chars-show-all').addEventListener('click', _libShowAllBooks);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!all.length && !inStudio) {
     container.innerHTML = '<div class="lib-chars-toolbar">'
       + '<button class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="lib-chars-import" title="Import character cards from SillyTavern (.json or .png)"><span class="mdi mdi-import"></span> Import from SillyTavern</button>'
       + '</div>'
@@ -108,6 +149,13 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
     byBook[bk].push(rec);
   });
 
+  if (inStudio) {
+    // Studio is working inside ONE book: drop every other production.
+    const only = byBook[scopeBook] || [];
+    Object.keys(byBook).forEach(function (k) { delete byBook[k]; });
+    byBook[scopeBook] = only;
+  }
+
   // The Narrator reads every non-dialogue line but was never a real Library
   // record (castWriteBack deliberately never creates one, to keep narrators
   // out of the cast library) — so there was nowhere in Assign Voices to give
@@ -188,6 +236,32 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
   });
   container.appendChild(bar);
 
+  const searchQuery = inStudio ? '' : String(window._libCharsQuery || '').trim().toLowerCase();
+  const bookNames = Object.keys(byBook).sort();
+  const head = document.createElement('div');
+  head.className = 'lib-chars-scope';
+  if (inStudio) {
+    head.innerHTML = '<span class="lib-chars-book-chip" id="lib-chars-book-chip"><span class="mdi mdi-book-open-page-variant-outline" aria-hidden="true"></span> Book: <b>' + escHtml(scopeBook) + '</b></span>'
+      + '<button type="button" class="btn-secondary btn-sm" id="lib-chars-show-all"><span class="mdi mdi-bookshelf"></span> Show characters of all books</button>';
+    head.querySelector('#lib-chars-show-all').addEventListener('click', _libShowAllBooks);
+  } else {
+    head.innerHTML = '<h3 class="lib-chars-global-title" id="lib-chars-global-title"><span class="mdi mdi-account-box-multiple-outline" aria-hidden="true"></span> All characters (all books)</h3>'
+      + '<span class="lib-chars-global-count" id="lib-chars-global-count">' + all.length + ' characters in ' + bookNames.length + ' book' + (bookNames.length === 1 ? '' : 's') + '</span>'
+      + '<label class="lib-chars-search"><span class="lib-chars-search-label">Search all books</span>'
+      +   '<input type="search" id="lib-chars-search" placeholder="Name, alias, archetype, book…" spellcheck="false" autocomplete="off" value="' + escHtml(String(window._libCharsQuery || '')) + '"></label>';
+    const searchEl = head.querySelector('#lib-chars-search');
+    let searchTimer = null;
+    searchEl.addEventListener('input', function () {
+      clearTimeout(searchTimer);
+      searchTimer = setTimeout(function () {
+        window._libCharsQuery = searchEl.value;
+        window._libCharsFocusSearch = true;
+        libraryRenderCharacters({ cached: true });
+      }, 180);
+    });
+  }
+  container.appendChild(head);
+
   const _charSortCmp = {
     tier: function (a, b) {
       const tierOrder = { main: 0, supporting: 1, minor: 2 };
@@ -219,7 +293,8 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
   const sortDir = localStorage.getItem('ttsvc_libchars_sort_dir') === 'desc' ? 'desc' : 'asc';
 
   const productions = document.createDocumentFragment();
-  Object.keys(byBook).sort().forEach(function (book) {
+  let shownBands = 0;
+  Object.keys(byBook).sort().forEach(function (book, bandIndex) {
     const chars = byBook[book].sort(_charSortCmp[sortMode] || _charSortCmp.tier);
     if (sortDir === 'desc') chars.reverse();
     // Narrator stays pinned first regardless of sort — same convention as
@@ -230,13 +305,18 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
     // Keep large productions responsive: the complete record set remains in
     // memory for sorting, relationship lookups and bulk operations, while
     // only one 50-row page is put into the DOM at a time.
+    const matched = searchQuery
+      ? chars.filter(function (r) { return _libCharHaystack(r).indexOf(searchQuery) !== -1; })
+      : chars;
+    if (searchQuery && !matched.length) return;
+    shownBands++;
     const pageKey = 'ttsvc_libchars_page::' + book;
     // Keep every page comfortably below the DOM budget on large casts. The
     // complete record set remains available for sorting and bulk operations.
     const pageSize = 25;
     const requestedPage = Math.max(1, parseInt(localStorage.getItem(pageKey) || '1', 10) || 1);
-    const visibleCount = Math.min(chars.length, requestedPage * pageSize);
-    const visibleChars = chars.slice(0, visibleCount);
+    const visibleCount = Math.min(matched.length, requestedPage * pageSize);
+    const visibleChars = matched.slice(0, visibleCount);
 
     const cov = libBookCover(book);
     const prod = document.createElement('div');
@@ -249,12 +329,22 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
     // production shut, so a 40+ character roster from an unrelated book
     // doesn't bury the one actually being worked on.
     const collapseKey = 'ttsvc_libchars_collapsed::' + book;
-    let isCollapsed = localStorage.getItem(collapseKey) === '1';
+    // Global view: collapsed unless the user opened it (the first book starts
+    // open); a search opens every band that has matches. Collapsed bands are
+    // not rendered at all (lazy) to keep the DOM small; opening one re-renders.
+    const storedCollapse = localStorage.getItem(collapseKey);
+    let isCollapsed = storedCollapse === null ? bandIndex > 0 : storedCollapse === '1';
     if (window._libCharsScrollToBook) isCollapsed = (book !== window._libCharsScrollToBook);
+    if (searchQuery) isCollapsed = false;
+    if (inStudio) isCollapsed = false;
+    const lazy = isCollapsed;
+    const bodyId = 'lib-chars-body-' + bandIndex;
+    if (inStudio) prod.classList.add('lib-chars-prod-scoped');
+    prod.dataset.lazy = lazy ? '1' : '0';
     if (isCollapsed) prod.classList.add('lib-chars-production-collapsed');
     prod.innerHTML = '<div class="lib-chars-prod-head" style="--pk1:' + cov.c1 + ';--pk2:' + cov.c2 + '">'
-      + '<button type="button" class="lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn" title="Collapse/expand this production"><span class="mdi mdi-chevron-down"></span></button>'
-      + '<div class="lib-chars-prod-title"><span class="mdi mdi-bookshelf"></span> ' + escHtml(book) + '</div>'
+      + '<button type="button" class="lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn" title="Collapse/expand this production" aria-expanded="' + (isCollapsed ? 'false' : 'true') + '" aria-controls="' + bodyId + '" aria-label="' + escHtml(book) + ' (' + chars.length + ' characters): show or hide"><span class="mdi mdi-chevron-down" aria-hidden="true"></span></button>'
+      + '<h3 class="lib-chars-prod-title"><span class="mdi mdi-bookshelf" aria-hidden="true"></span> <span class="lib-chars-prod-name">' + escHtml(book) + '</span> <span class="lib-chars-prod-count" title="Characters in this book">' + (searchQuery ? matched.length + ' of ' + chars.length : chars.length) + '</span></h3>'
       + '<div class="lib-chars-prod-actions">'
       +   '<button class="btn-secondary btn-sm lib-chars-bookctx-btn" data-book="' + escHtml(book) + '" title="Set genre, setting, era and language for this book — gives every voice/image prompt real context instead of guessing per character"><span class="mdi mdi-book-cog-outline"></span> Context</button>'
       +   '<button class="btn-secondary btn-sm lib-chars-casting-btn" data-book="' + escHtml(book) + '" title="Back to the casting script (speaker attribution)"><span class="mdi mdi-drama-masks"></span> Casting</button>'
@@ -280,14 +370,14 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
       +   '<button class="btn-secondary btn-sm lib-chars-bulk-delete-btn" data-book="' + escHtml(book) + '" title="Delete every checked character from the library — use this to clear out stale/corrupted entries before a fresh recast" disabled><span class="mdi mdi-trash-can-outline"></span> Delete selected (<span class="lib-chars-bulk-count-delete">0</span>)</button>'
       +   '<button class="btn-secondary btn-sm lib-chars-fix-lang-btn" data-book="' + escHtml(book) + '" title="Find every character whose current voice does not match this book\'s language, and design a properly-matching one — no selection needed, scans the whole production"><span class="mdi mdi-earth-arrow-right"></span> Fix wrong-language voices</button>'
       + '</div></div>'
-      + '<div class="lib-chars-prod-body">'
-      +   (viewMode === 'table'
+      + '<div class="lib-chars-prod-body" id="' + bodyId + '" role="region" aria-label="' + escHtml(book) + '">'
+      +   (lazy ? '' : viewMode === 'table'
             ? _charsTableHtml(visibleChars, sortMode, sortDir)
             : '<div class="lib-chars-grid" id="lib-chars-grid-' + encodeURIComponent(book).replace(/%/g,'_') + '">'
               + visibleChars.map(function (rec) { return _charCardHtml(rec, chars); }).join('')
               + '</div>')
-      + (visibleCount < chars.length
-          ? '<button type="button" class="btn-secondary btn-sm lib-chars-load-more" style="margin:12px 0">Show more characters (' + visibleCount + ' / ' + chars.length + ')</button>'
+      + (!lazy && visibleCount < matched.length
+          ? '<button type="button" class="btn-secondary btn-sm lib-chars-load-more" style="margin:12px 0">Show more characters (' + visibleCount + ' / ' + matched.length + ')</button>'
           : '')
       + '</div>';
 
@@ -298,7 +388,17 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
 
     prod.querySelector('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn').addEventListener('click', function (e) {
       e.stopPropagation();
+      if (inStudio) return;
+      if (prod.dataset.lazy === '1') {
+        // Not rendered yet: remember the choice and rebuild with this band open.
+        localStorage.setItem(collapseKey, '0');
+        window._libCharsFocusBand = book;
+        libraryRenderCharacters({ cached: true });
+        return;
+      }
       const collapsed = prod.classList.toggle('lib-chars-production-collapsed');
+      prod.querySelector('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn').setAttribute('aria-expanded', collapsed ? 'false' : 'true');
+      if (collapsed) prod.dataset.lazy = '0';
       localStorage.setItem(collapseKey, collapsed ? '1' : '0');
     });
     // The whole head bar toggles too, not just the small chevron button —
@@ -307,6 +407,7 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
     // hit area than the chevron alone.
     prod.querySelector('.lib-chars-prod-head').addEventListener('click', function (e) {
       if (e.target.closest('button, select, input, a')) return;
+      if (inStudio) return;
       prod.querySelector('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn').click();
     });
 
@@ -594,6 +695,22 @@ async function libraryRenderCharacters() {
     productions.appendChild(prod);
   });
   container.appendChild(productions);
+  if (searchQuery && !shownBands) {
+    const none = document.createElement('p');
+    none.className = 'lib-chars-search-empty';
+    none.setAttribute('role', 'status');
+    none.textContent = 'No character matches "' + String(window._libCharsQuery || '').trim() + '" in any book.';
+    container.appendChild(none);
+  }
+  if (window._libCharsFocusSearch) {
+    window._libCharsFocusSearch = false;
+    const se = container.querySelector('#lib-chars-search');
+    if (se) { se.focus(); try { se.setSelectionRange(se.value.length, se.value.length); } catch (_) {} }
+  } else if (window._libCharsFocusBand) {
+    const fb = window._libCharsFocusBand; window._libCharsFocusBand = null;
+    const fp = [...container.querySelectorAll('.lib-chars-production')].find(function (p) { return p.dataset.book === fb; });
+    fp?.querySelector('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn')?.focus();
+  }
   if (typeof window.ttvcObserveImages === 'function') window.ttvcObserveImages(container);
 
   // Scroll to a specific book's production block — set by callers that land
diff --git a/static/js/studio.js b/static/js/studio.js
index 512be60..51a38af 100644
--- a/static/js/studio.js
+++ b/static/js/studio.js
@@ -188,6 +188,51 @@ function _stuInstallNavGuardOnce() {
 // the function.
 function _stuCallSuppressingNav(fn) { return fn(); }
 
+// Title of the book Studio is working on ('' when none is picked).
+async function _stuResolveBookTitle() {
+  let title = null;
+  if (window._audiobook && window._audiobook.bookId) {
+    try {
+      const r = await fetch('/api/reader/docs/' + encodeURIComponent(window._audiobook.bookId));
+      if (r.ok) { const doc = await r.json(); title = doc.title || null; }
+    } catch (_) {}
+  }
+  return title || (window.readerState && window.readerState.title) || '';
+}
+
+// Header chip on the Characters step: which book this step works on.
+async function _stuUpdateBookChip() {
+  const row = document.getElementById('stu-book-chip-row');
+  if (!row) return;
+  const title = await _stuResolveBookTitle();
+  row.textContent = '';
+  const chip = document.createElement('span');
+  chip.className = 'lib-chars-book-chip';
+  chip.id = 'stu-book-chip';
+  const icon = document.createElement('span');
+  icon.className = 'mdi mdi-book-open-page-variant-outline';
+  icon.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
+  chip.appendChild(icon);
+  chip.appendChild(document.createTextNode(title ? ' Book: ' : ' No book picked yet '));
+  if (title) { const b = document.createElement('b'); b.textContent = title; chip.appendChild(b); }
+  row.appendChild(chip);
+  const mk = function (id, label, fn) {
+    const btn = document.createElement('button');
+    btn.type = 'button'; btn.className = 'btn-secondary btn-sm'; btn.id = id; btn.textContent = label;
+    btn.addEventListener('click', fn); row.appendChild(btn);
+  };
+  if (!title) mk('stu-pick-book-btn', 'Pick a book', function () { showStudioPhase(1); });
+  mk('stu-show-all-chars-btn', 'Show characters of all books', function () { window.studioShowAllCharacters(); });
+}
+
+// Leave the per-book Studio view for the global cast view (Library > Characters / Cast).
+// Studio's nav guard drops internal navTo('s-library') calls, so allow this one.
+window.studioShowAllCharacters = function () {
+  _stuAllowNextNav = true;
+  if (typeof window.navLibraryView === 'function') window.navLibraryView('characters');
+  else if (typeof window.navTo === 'function') window.navTo('s-library');
+};
+
 // Per-phase borrow wiring — called by showStudioPhase whenever a phase
 // becomes active. Each case borrows the real subtree that section already
 // renders into/wires listeners on; no logic is duplicated here.
@@ -200,6 +245,7 @@ function _stuEnterPhase(n) {
       if (typeof window.libraryRenderBooks === 'function') window.libraryRenderBooks();
     });
   } else if (n === 2) {
+    _stuUpdateBookChip();
     _stuShowCastView(_stuCastView);
   } else if (n === 3) {
     _stuBorrow('lib-chars-list', 'stu-voices-slot');
@@ -214,14 +260,12 @@ function _stuEnterPhase(n) {
     // whichever book's cast session is active, so resolve the title from
     // that via the server instead of trusting readerState.title first.
     (async () => {
-      let title = null;
-      if (window._audiobook && window._audiobook.bookId) {
-        try {
-          const r = await fetch('/api/reader/docs/' + encodeURIComponent(window._audiobook.bookId));
-          if (r.ok) { const doc = await r.json(); title = doc.title || null; }
-        } catch (_) {}
-      }
-      window._libCharsScrollToBook = title || (window.readerState && readerState.title) || null;
+      // Studio works inside ONE book: the Voices step lists only that book's
+      // characters (library-characters.js reads _libCharsStudioBook while the
+      // list is borrowed into this slot; '' shows the "pick a book" prompt).
+      const title = await _stuResolveBookTitle();
+      window._libCharsStudioBook = title || '';
+      window._libCharsScrollToBook = null;
       _stuCallSuppressingNav(function () {
         if (typeof window.libraryRender === 'function') window.libraryRender('characters');
       });
diff --git a/static/sections/s-caststudio.html b/static/sections/s-caststudio.html
index fbee46c..1cd0a84 100644
--- a/static/sections/s-caststudio.html
+++ b/static/sections/s-caststudio.html
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 
         <!-- ── Phase 2: Characters ─────────────────────────────────────── -->
         <div class="stu-phase" id="stu-phase-2" hidden>
+          <div class="stu-book-chip-row" id="stu-book-chip-row" aria-live="polite"></div>
           <div class="stu-inner-tabs" id="stu-cast-inner-tabs">
             <button type="button" class="stu-book-context-btn" id="stu-change-book-btn" title="Choose a different uploaded book"><span class="mdi mdi-book-open-page-variant-outline"></span> Change book</button>
             <button type="button" class="stu-book-context-btn" id="stu-book-context-btn" title="Edit genre, setting, era and language before identifying characters"><span class="mdi mdi-book-cog-outline"></span> Edit book context</button>
diff --git a/static/style.css b/static/style.css
index 72f7c0f..d853aad 100644
--- a/static/style.css
+++ b/static/style.css
@@ -5989,3 +5989,29 @@ html[data-mag-night] #toast.success { color: var(--green); } html[data-mag-night
 .mag-suggest summary:focus-visible, .mag-suggest .mag-suggest-btn:focus-visible { outline: 3px solid var(--accent); outline-offset: 2px; }
 @media (max-width: 480px) { .mag-suggest .mag-suggest-btn { width: 100%; justify-content: center; } }
 .mag-stale-badge.mag-pill { color: var(--text); background: rgba(217,119,6,.16); border: 1px solid var(--yellow); }
+
+/* ── Global cast view / per-book Studio scope ───────────────────────────────── */
+.lib-chars-scope, .stu-book-chip-row { display:flex; flex-wrap:wrap; align-items:center; gap:10px 14px; margin:0 0 14px; min-width:0; }
+.stu-book-chip-row:empty { display:none; }
+.lib-chars-book-chip {
+  display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:6px; max-width:100%; padding:6px 12px; border-radius:999px;
+  border:1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 55%, var(--border));
+  background:color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 12%, var(--surface)); color:var(--text); font-size:14px; overflow-wrap:anywhere;
+}
+.lib-chars-global-title { margin:0; font-size:17px; font-weight:700; color:var(--text); display:flex; align-items:center; gap:8px; }
+.lib-chars-global-count { color:var(--subtext); font-size:13px; }
+.lib-chars-search { display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:2px; flex:1 1 220px; min-width:0; max-width:420px; margin-left:auto; }
+.lib-chars-search-label { font-size:12px; font-weight:600; color:var(--subtext); }
+.lib-chars-search input { width:100%; box-sizing:border-box; min-height:36px; padding:6px 10px; border-radius:6px; border:1px solid var(--border); background:var(--surface); color:var(--text); font-size:14px; }
+.lib-chars-search input:focus-visible, .lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn:focus-visible { outline:3px solid var(--accent); outline-offset:2px; }
+.lib-chars-search-empty { color:var(--subtext); padding:12px 0; }
+.lib-chars-prod-title { margin:0; color:inherit; min-width:0; flex:1 1 auto; overflow-wrap:anywhere; }
+.lib-chars-prod-name { min-width:0; }
+.lib-chars-prod-count { display:inline-block; padding:1px 8px; border-radius:999px; background:rgba(0,0,0,.35); color:#fff; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; }
+.lib-chars-prod-scoped .lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn { display:none; }
+.lib-chars-prod-scoped .lib-chars-prod-head { cursor:default; }
+.lib-chars-scope-prompt { padding:20px; max-width:560px; }
+.lib-chars-scope-prompt h3 { margin:0 0 8px; font-size:17px; }
+.lib-chars-scope-prompt p { margin:0 0 14px; color:var(--subtext); line-height:1.5; }
+.lib-chars-scope-actions { display:flex; flex-wrap:wrap; gap:8px; }
+#lib-chars-list { min-width:0; max-width:100%; }
diff --git a/tests/characters-scope.spec.js b/tests/characters-scope.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83ccbc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/characters-scope.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+// @ts-check
+// Global cast view (sidebar) vs. per-book characters inside Studio.
+const { test, expect } = require('@playwright/test');
+
+const mk = (book, n, prefix) => Array.from({ length: n }, (_, i) => ({
+  id: `${prefix}-${i}`, book, name: `${prefix}Hero${i}`, tags: '', voice: null,
+  sheet: { gender: i % 2 ? 'F' : 'M', archetype: i === 0 ? 'Rogue' : '' },
+}));
+const BOOK_A = 'Alpha Saga 01';
+const BOOK_B = 'Beta Saga 02';
+const BOOK_C = 'Gamma Saga 03';
+const CHARACTERS = [...mk(BOOK_A, 3, 'Al'), ...mk(BOOK_B, 4, 'Be'), ...mk(BOOK_C, 2, 'Ga')];
+
+async function setup(page, { resume } = {}) {
+  await page.route('**/api/characters*', route => route.fulfill({ json: { characters: CHARACTERS } }));
+  await page.route('**/api/voices*', route => route.fulfill({ json: [] }));
+  await page.route('**/api/settings*', route => route.fulfill({ json: {} }));
+  await page.route('**/api/book-profile*', route => route.fulfill({ json: { profile: {} } }));
+  await page.route('**/api/reader/docs/book-b', route => route.fulfill({ json: { id: 'book-b', title: BOOK_B, sentences: [] } }));
+  await page.addInitScript(r => {
+    try { localStorage.clear(); if (r) localStorage.setItem('ttsvc_studio_resume', JSON.stringify(r)); } catch (_) { /* ignore */ }
+  }, resume || null);
+  await page.goto('/', { waitUntil: 'domcontentloaded' });
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => typeof window.navTo === 'function', null, { timeout: 15_000 });
+  await page.waitForSelector('#lib-chars-list', { state: 'attached', timeout: 15_000 });
+  await page.waitForSelector('#app-skeleton', { state: 'detached', timeout: 15_000 });
+}
+
+async function openGlobal(page) {
+  await page.evaluate(() => window.navTo('s-library'));
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => typeof window.navLibraryView === 'function' && typeof window.libraryRenderCharacters === 'function', null, { timeout: 15_000 });
+  await page.locator('.lib-tab[data-library-view="characters"]').evaluate(el => el.click());
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-global-title')).toHaveText(/All characters \(all books\)/, { timeout: 15_000 });
+}
+
+test('global cast view groups all books in collapsible, lazily rendered bands', async ({ page }) => {
+  await setup(page);
+  await openGlobal(page);
+  const bands = page.locator('#lib-chars-list .lib-chars-production');
+  await expect(bands).toHaveCount(3);
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-global-count')).toContainText('9 characters in 3 books');
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-list h3.lib-chars-prod-title')).toHaveCount(3);
+  // First band open, the others collapsed and not rendered at all.
+  const first = bands.nth(0);
+  const second = bands.nth(1);
+  await expect(first.locator('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn')).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');
+  await expect(second.locator('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn')).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+  await expect(first.locator('.lib-char-card')).toHaveCount(4); // 3 + synthetic Narrator
+  await expect(second.locator('.lib-char-card')).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(first.locator('.lib-chars-prod-count')).toHaveText('4');
+  // Opening a collapsed band renders its characters.
+  await second.locator('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-list .lib-chars-production').nth(1).locator('.lib-char-card')).toHaveCount(5);
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-list .lib-chars-production').nth(1).locator('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn')).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');
+  // Collapsing again toggles without a rebuild.
+  await page.locator('#lib-chars-list .lib-chars-production').nth(1).locator('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-list .lib-chars-production').nth(1).locator('.lib-chars-prod-collapse-btn')).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+  expect(await page.evaluate(() => document.documentElement.scrollWidth <= window.innerWidth + 1)).toBe(true);
+});
+
+test('global cast view searches across all books', async ({ page }) => {
+  await setup(page);
+  await openGlobal(page);
+  const search = page.locator('#lib-chars-search');
+  await search.fill('GaHero1');
+  const bands = page.locator('#lib-chars-list .lib-chars-production');
+  await expect(bands).toHaveCount(1);
+  await expect(bands.first().locator('.lib-chars-prod-name')).toHaveText(BOOK_C);
+  await expect(bands.first().locator('.lib-char-card')).toHaveCount(1);
+  await expect(search).toBeFocused();
+  await expect(bands.first().locator('.lib-chars-prod-count')).toHaveText('1 of 3');
+  await search.fill('rogue'); // archetype of the first character of every book
+  await expect(bands).toHaveCount(3);
+  await search.fill('nobody-here');
+  await expect(page.locator('.lib-chars-search-empty')).toBeVisible();
+  await search.fill('');
+  await expect(bands).toHaveCount(3);
+});
+
+test('Studio Voices shows only the picked book and links to the global view', async ({ page }) => {
+  await setup(page, { resume: { phase: 3, bookId: 'book-b', bookTitle: BOOK_B } });
+  await page.evaluate(() => window.navTo('s-caststudio'));
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-voices-slot #lib-chars-book-chip')).toContainText(`Book: ${BOOK_B}`, { timeout: 20_000 });
+  const bands = page.locator('#stu-voices-slot .lib-chars-production');
+  await expect(bands).toHaveCount(1);
+  await expect(bands.first().locator('.lib-chars-prod-name')).toHaveText(BOOK_B);
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-voices-slot')).not.toContainText(BOOK_A);
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-voices-slot .lib-char-card')).toHaveCount(5);
+  // Per-book actions stay in the band header.
+  await expect(bands.first().locator('.lib-chars-bulk-voice-btn')).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(bands.first().locator('.lib-chars-select-all-btn')).toBeVisible();
+  await page.locator('#lib-chars-show-all').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('#s-library')).toHaveClass(/is-active/, { timeout: 15_000 });
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-global-title')).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.locator('#lib-chars-list .lib-chars-production')).toHaveCount(3);
+});
+
+test('Studio Characters step shows the book chip', async ({ page }) => {
+  await setup(page, { resume: { phase: 2, bookId: 'book-b', bookTitle: BOOK_B } });
+  await page.evaluate(() => window.navTo('s-caststudio'));
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-book-chip')).toContainText(`Book: ${BOOK_B}`, { timeout: 20_000 });
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-show-all-chars-btn')).toBeVisible();
+});
+
+test('Studio Voices without a picked book offers to pick one instead of listing all books', async ({ page }) => {
+  await setup(page);
+  await page.evaluate(() => { window.navTo('s-caststudio'); });
+  await page.waitForFunction(() => typeof window.showStudioPhase === 'function', null, { timeout: 15_000 });
+  await page.evaluate(() => window.showStudioPhase(3));
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-voices-slot .lib-chars-scope-prompt')).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-voices-slot .lib-chars-production')).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-voices-slot #lib-chars-show-all')).toBeVisible();
+  await page.locator('#stu-voices-slot #lib-chars-pick-book').click();
+  await expect(page.locator('#stu-phase-1')).toBeVisible();
+});