diff --git a/cps/static/js/filter_grid.js b/cps/static/js/filter_grid.js
index cb826f34..362c6bfa 100644
--- a/cps/static/js/filter_grid.js
+++ b/cps/static/js/filter_grid.js
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ var $list = $("#list").isotope({
 });
 
 $("#desc").click(function() {
+    var page = $(this).data("id");
     $.ajax({
         method:"post",
         contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ $("#desc").click(function() {
 });
 
 $("#asc").click(function() {
+    var page = $(this).data("id");
     $.ajax({
         method:"post",
         contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
diff --git a/cps/ub.py b/cps/ub.py
index 148bdee4..06c65f38 100644
--- a/cps/ub.py
+++ b/cps/ub.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import sys
 import datetime
 import itertools
 import uuid
-import json
+from flask import session as flask_session
 from binascii import hexlify
 
 from flask import g
@@ -71,15 +71,16 @@ def get_sidebar_config(kwargs=None):
                     "visibility": constants.SIDEBAR_HOT, 'public': True, "page": "hot",
                     "show_text": _('Show Hot Books'), "config_show": True})
     sidebar.append({"glyph": "glyphicon-download", "text": _('Downloaded Books'), "link": 'web.books_list',
-                    "id": "download", "visibility": constants.SIDEBAR_DOWNLOAD, 'public': True, "page": "download",
-                    "show_text": _('Show Downloaded Books'), "config_show": True})
+                    "id": "download", "visibility": constants.SIDEBAR_DOWNLOAD, 'public': (not g.user.is_anonymous),
+                    "page": "download", "show_text": _('Show Downloaded Books'),
+                    "config_show": content})
     sidebar.append(
         {"glyph": "glyphicon-star", "text": _('Top Rated Books'), "link": 'web.books_list', "id": "rated",
          "visibility": constants.SIDEBAR_BEST_RATED, 'public': True, "page": "rated",
          "show_text": _('Show Top Rated Books'), "config_show": True})
     sidebar.append({"glyph": "glyphicon-eye-open", "text": _('Read Books'), "link": 'web.books_list', "id": "read",
-                    "visibility": constants.SIDEBAR_READ_AND_UNREAD, 'public': (not g.user.is_anonymous), "page": "read",
-                    "show_text": _('Show read and unread'), "config_show": content})
+                    "visibility": constants.SIDEBAR_READ_AND_UNREAD, 'public': (not g.user.is_anonymous),
+                    "page": "read", "show_text": _('Show read and unread'), "config_show": content})
     sidebar.append(
         {"glyph": "glyphicon-eye-close", "text": _('Unread Books'), "link": 'web.books_list', "id": "unread",
          "visibility": constants.SIDEBAR_READ_AND_UNREAD, 'public': (not g.user.is_anonymous), "page": "unread",
@@ -242,7 +243,6 @@ class User(UserBase, Base):
     denied_column_value = Column(String, default="")
     allowed_column_value = Column(String, default="")
     remote_auth_token = relationship('RemoteAuthToken', backref='user', lazy='dynamic')
-    #series_view = Column(String(10), default="list")
     view_settings = Column(JSON, default={})
 
 
@@ -286,6 +286,9 @@ class Anonymous(AnonymousUserMixin, UserBase):
         self.denied_column_value = data.denied_column_value
         self.allowed_column_value = data.allowed_column_value
         self.view_settings = data.view_settings
+        # Initialize flask_session once
+        if 'view' not in flask_session:
+            flask_session['view']={}
 
 
     def role_admin(self):
@@ -303,6 +306,16 @@ class Anonymous(AnonymousUserMixin, UserBase):
     def is_authenticated(self):
         return False
 
+    def get_view_property(self, page, prop):
+        if not flask_session['view'].get(page):
+            return None
+        return flask_session['view'][page].get(prop)
+
+    def set_view_property(self, page, prop, value):
+        if not flask_session['view'].get(page):
+            flask_session['view'][page] = dict()
+        flask_session['view'][page][prop] = value
+
 
 # Baseclass representing Shelfs in calibre-web in app.db
 class Shelf(Base):
diff --git a/cps/web.py b/cps/web.py
index 94371dfb..38031cc0 100644
--- a/cps/web.py
+++ b/cps/web.py
@@ -234,9 +234,8 @@ def admin_required(f):
 
 def unconfigured(f):
     """
-    Checks if current_user.role == 1
+    Checks if calibre-web instance is not configured
     """
-
     @wraps(f)
     def inner(*args, **kwargs):
         if not config.db_configured:
@@ -464,25 +463,15 @@ def toggle_archived(book_id):
 
 
 @web.route("/ajax/view", methods=["POST"])
-@login_required
+@login_required_if_no_ano
 def update_view():
     to_save = request.get_json()
     try:
         for element in to_save:
-            if not current_user.view_settings.get(element):
-                current_user.view_settings[element]=dict()
             for param in to_save[element]:
-                current_user.view_settings[element][param] = to_save[element][param]
-        try:
-            flag_modified(current_user, "view_settings")
-        except AttributeError:
-            pass
-        ub.session.commit()
-    except InvalidRequestError:
-        log.error("Invalid request received: %r ", request, )
-        return "Invalid request", 400
+                current_user.set_view_property(element, param, to_save[element][param])
     except Exception as e:
-        log.error("Could not save series_view_settings: %r %r", request, to_save)
+        log.error("Could not save view_settings: %r %r: e", request, to_save, e)
         return "Invalid request", 400
     return "1", 200