diff --git a/backend/local_rag.py b/backend/local_rag.py
index 5fe6dad..052fcf4 100644
--- a/backend/local_rag.py
+++ b/backend/local_rag.py
@@ -468,11 +468,62 @@ def _ensure_stage_link(slug: str, source_path: Path, rel: str) -> None:
 
 def _find_item(data: Dict[str, Any], item_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
     return next(
-        (entry for entry in data.get("files", []) if str(entry.get("item_id") or "") == item_id),
+        (
+            entry for entry in data.get("files", [])
+            if str(entry.get("item_id") or entry.get("sha256") or entry.get("rel") or "") == item_id
+        ),
         None,
     )
 
 
+def _read_indexed_file_text(slug: str, entry: Dict[str, Any], max_chars: int = 200_000) -> tuple[str, bool]:
+    corpus_path = _collect_library_paths(slug)["corpus"]
+    if not corpus_path.exists():
+        return "", False
+
+    raw_path = str(entry.get("path") or "")
+    try:
+        source_key = str(Path(raw_path).expanduser().resolve())
+    except Exception:
+        source_key = raw_path
+    item_id = str(entry.get("item_id") or entry.get("sha256") or entry.get("rel") or "")
+    parts: List[str] = []
+    total = 0
+    truncated = False
+
+    with corpus_path.open("r", encoding="utf-8", errors="ignore") as handle:
+        for line in handle:
+            if not line.strip():
+                continue
+            try:
+                record = json.loads(line)
+            except Exception:
+                continue
+            record_source = str(record.get("source_path") or "")
+            try:
+                record_source_key = str(Path(record_source).expanduser().resolve())
+            except Exception:
+                record_source_key = record_source
+            record_item_id = str((record.get("meta") or {}).get("item_id") or record.get("id") or "")
+            if record_source_key != source_key and (not item_id or record_item_id != item_id):
+                continue
+            text = str(record.get("text") or "").strip()
+            if not text:
+                continue
+            remaining = max_chars - total
+            if remaining <= 0:
+                truncated = True
+                break
+            if len(text) > remaining:
+                parts.append(text[:remaining].rstrip())
+                truncated = True
+                break
+            parts.append(text)
+            total += len(text) + 2
+
+    return "\n\n".join(parts), truncated
+
+
 def _mark_entry_pending(entry: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     entry["sync_status"] = "pending"
     entry.pop("sync_error", None)
@@ -1266,9 +1317,16 @@ def get_library_item(slug: str, item_id: str):
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Content item not found")
 
     payload = dict(entry)
-    if entry.get("kind") == "text":
+    if entry.get("kind") in {"text", "website"}:
         path = Path(str(entry.get("path") or ""))
         payload["content"] = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") if path.exists() else ""
+        payload["content_origin"] = "stored_snapshot" if entry.get("kind") == "website" else "stored_text"
+        payload["content_truncated"] = False
+    else:
+        content, truncated = _read_indexed_file_text(slug, entry)
+        payload["content"] = content
+        payload["content_origin"] = "extracted_text"
+        payload["content_truncated"] = truncated
     return payload
 
 
diff --git a/src/LibraryManager.jsx b/src/LibraryManager.jsx
index e8b7990..3484f93 100644
--- a/src/LibraryManager.jsx
+++ b/src/LibraryManager.jsx
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ export default function LibraryManager({ apiBase, library, jobs, onRefresh }) {
   const [textContent, setTextContent] = useState('')
   const [websiteTitle, setWebsiteTitle] = useState('')
   const [websiteUrl, setWebsiteUrl] = useState('')
+  const [expandedItemId, setExpandedItemId] = useState(null)
+  const [contentPreviews, setContentPreviews] = useState({})
   const toastTimeoutsRef = useRef(new Map())
   const toastIdRef = useRef(0)
   const previousLibraryStateRef = useRef(null)
@@ -122,6 +124,28 @@ export default function LibraryManager({ apiBase, library, jobs, onRefresh }) {
     setWebsiteUrl('')
   }
 
+  async function toggleContentPreview(item) {
+    const itemId = item?.item_id
+    if (!library || !itemId) return
+    if (expandedItemId === itemId) {
+      setExpandedItemId(null)
+      return
+    }
+    setExpandedItemId(itemId)
+    if (contentPreviews[itemId]) return
+    setContentPreviews(current => ({ ...current, [itemId]: { loading: true } }))
+    try {
+      const response = await fetch(`${apiBase}/libraries/${library.slug}/items/${itemId}`)
+      const data = await expectJson(response)
+      setContentPreviews(current => ({ ...current, [itemId]: { data } }))
+    } catch (error) {
+      setContentPreviews(current => ({
+        ...current,
+        [itemId]: { error: String(error?.message || error) }
+      }))
+    }
+  }
+
   async function runAction(fn, successMessage) {
     setBusy(true)
     setErrorMessage('')
@@ -372,8 +396,11 @@ export default function LibraryManager({ apiBase, library, jobs, onRefresh }) {
               const sync = itemSyncMeta(item)
               const label = kindLabel(item)
               const source = item.kind === 'website' ? item.url : item.kind === 'text' ? 'Written in Heimgeist' : item.path
+              const itemId = item.item_id || item.sha256 || item.rel
+              const isExpanded = expandedItemId === itemId
+              const preview = contentPreviews[itemId]
               return (
-                <article key={item.item_id || item.sha256 || item.rel} className={`library-content-card kind-${item.kind || 'file'}`}>
+                <article key={itemId} className={`library-content-card kind-${item.kind || 'file'} ${isExpanded ? 'expanded' : ''}`}>
                   <div className="library-content-card-header">
                     <span className="library-kind-badge">{label}</span>
                     <span className={`library-file-sync-label ${sync.status}`}>{sync.label}</span>
@@ -389,7 +416,25 @@ export default function LibraryManager({ apiBase, library, jobs, onRefresh }) {
                       <div className="library-file-progress-bar" style={{ width: `${sync.progress}%` }} />
                     </div>
                   </div>
+                  {isExpanded && (
+                    <div className="library-content-preview">
+                      <div className="library-content-preview-label">
+                        {item.kind === 'website' ? 'Saved website text' : item.kind === 'text' ? 'Stored text' : 'Extracted text used by RAG'}
+                      </div>
+                      {preview?.loading && <div className="muted-copy">Loading content…</div>}
+                      {preview?.error && <div className="form-error">{preview.error}</div>}
+                      {preview?.data && (
+                        <>
+                          <pre>{preview.data.content || 'No readable text was extracted from this item.'}</pre>
+                          {preview.data.content_truncated && <div className="muted-copy">Preview shortened. The indexed source contains more text.</div>}
+                        </>
+                      )}
+                    </div>
+                  )}
                   <div className="library-file-actions">
+                    <button className="button ghost" disabled={busy} onClick={() => toggleContentPreview(item)}>
+                      {isExpanded ? 'Hide Content' : 'View Content'}
+                    </button>
                     {item.kind === 'text' && <button className="button ghost" disabled={busy} onClick={() => editText(item)}>Edit</button>}
                     {item.kind === 'website' && <button className="button ghost" onClick={() => desktopApi.openExternalLink(item.url)}>Open</button>}
                     {item.kind === 'website' && <button className="button ghost" disabled={busy} onClick={() => refreshWebsite(item)}>Refresh</button>}
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index ccc9e45..c2dcc18 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -1796,6 +1796,43 @@ input:checked + .slider:before {
   border-color: color-mix(in srgb, #69c4a1 34%, var(--border));
 }
 
+.library-content-card.expanded {
+  grid-column: 1 / -1;
+}
+
+.library-content-preview {
+  margin-top: 12px;
+  padding: 12px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--bg) 82%, black);
+}
+
+.library-content-preview-label {
+  margin-bottom: 8px;
+  color: var(--muted);
+  font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 700;
+  letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+}
+
+.library-content-preview pre {
+  max-height: 420px;
+  margin: 0;
+  overflow: auto;
+  white-space: pre-wrap;
+  overflow-wrap: anywhere;
+  color: var(--text);
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 13px;
+  line-height: 1.55;
+}
+
+.library-content-preview .muted-copy {
+  margin-top: 8px;
+}
+
 .library-kind-badge {
   display: inline-flex;
   padding: 4px 8px;