diff --git a/common/lib_tree_model_adapter.cpp b/common/lib_tree_model_adapter.cpp
index 1dc9581688..87f8dcba64 100644
--- a/common/lib_tree_model_adapter.cpp
+++ b/common/lib_tree_model_adapter.cpp
@@ -128,10 +128,10 @@ LIB_TREE_NODE* LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::ToNode( wxDataViewItem aItem )
 
 LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( EDA_BASE_FRAME* aParent, const wxString& aPinnedKey,
                                                 APP_SETTINGS_BASE::LIB_TREE& aSettingsStruct ) :
-        m_widget( nullptr ),
-        m_lazyLoadHandler( nullptr ),
         m_parent( aParent ),
         m_cfg( aSettingsStruct ),
+        m_widget( nullptr ),
+        m_lazyLoadHandler( nullptr ),
         m_sort_mode( BEST_MATCH ),
         m_show_units( true ),
         m_preselect_unit( 0 ),
@@ -144,6 +144,16 @@ LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( EDA_BASE_FRAME* aParent, const w
 
     m_availableColumns = { _HKI( "Item" ), _HKI( "Description" ) };
 
+    loadColumnConfig();
+}
+
+
+LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::~LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER()
+{}
+
+
+void LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::loadColumnConfig()
+{
     for( const std::pair<const wxString, int>& pair : m_cfg.column_widths )
         m_colWidths[pair.first] = pair.second;
 
@@ -157,10 +167,6 @@ LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( EDA_BASE_FRAME* aParent, const w
 }
 
 
-LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::~LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER()
-{}
-
-
 std::vector<wxString> LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::GetOpenLibs() const
 {
     std::vector<wxString> openLibs;
diff --git a/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.cpp b/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.cpp
index 77af78133b..3b8bd50fa7 100644
--- a/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.cpp
@@ -36,33 +36,28 @@
 #include <trace_helpers.h>
 #include <libraries/symbol_library_adapter.h>
 
-bool SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::m_show_progress = true;
-
 #define PROGRESS_INTERVAL_MILLIS 33      // 30 FPS refresh rate
 
 
 wxObjectDataPtr<LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER>
-SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::Create( SCH_BASE_FRAME* aParent,
-                                   SYMBOL_LIBRARY_ADAPTER* aManager )
+SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::Create( SCH_BASE_FRAME* aParent, SYMBOL_LIBRARY_ADAPTER* aManager )
 {
     auto* adapter = new SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( aParent, aManager );
     return wxObjectDataPtr<LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER>( adapter );
 }
 
 
-SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( SCH_BASE_FRAME* aParent,
-                                                      SYMBOL_LIBRARY_ADAPTER* aLibs ) :
-        LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( aParent, "pinned_symbol_libs",
-                                aParent->GetViewerSettingsBase()->m_LibTree ),
+SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( SCH_BASE_FRAME* aParent, SYMBOL_LIBRARY_ADAPTER* aLibs ) :
+        LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( aParent, "pinned_symbol_libs", aParent->GetViewerSettingsBase()->m_LibTree ),
         m_adapter( aLibs ),
         m_check_pending_libraries_timer( nullptr )
 {
+    m_colWidths[ GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::VALUE, false ) ] = 300;
+    m_colWidths[ GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::FOOTPRINT, false ) ] = 600;
+    m_colWidths[ GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::DATASHEET, false ) ] = 600;
+
     m_availableColumns.emplace_back( GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::VALUE, false ) );
     m_availableColumns.emplace_back( GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::FOOTPRINT, false ) );
-
-    // Description is always shown
-    //m_availableColumns.emplace_back( GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::DESCRIPTION, false ) );
-
     // Datasheet probably isn't useful, but better to leave that decision to the user:
     m_availableColumns.emplace_back( GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::DATASHEET, false ) );
 }
@@ -72,6 +67,21 @@ SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::~SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER()
 {}
 
 
+void SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::loadColumnConfig()
+{
+    for( const std::pair<const wxString, int>& pair : m_cfg.column_widths )
+        m_colWidths[pair.first] = pair.second;
+
+    m_shownColumns = m_cfg.columns;
+
+    if( m_shownColumns.empty() )
+        m_shownColumns = {  _HKI( "Item" ), _HKI( "Description" ), GetDefaultFieldName( FIELD_T::VALUE, false ) };
+
+    if( m_shownColumns[0] != _HKI( "Item" ) )
+        m_shownColumns.insert( m_shownColumns.begin(), _HKI( "Item" ) );
+}
+
+
 void SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER::AddLibraries( SCH_BASE_FRAME* aFrame )
 {
     COMMON_SETTINGS* cfg = Pgm().GetCommonSettings();
diff --git a/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.h b/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.h
index 780a133acc..21c5207705 100644
--- a/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.h
+++ b/eeschema/symbol_tree_model_adapter.h
@@ -62,14 +62,11 @@ protected:
      */
     SYMBOL_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER( SCH_BASE_FRAME* aParent, SYMBOL_LIBRARY_ADAPTER* aManager );
 
+    void loadColumnConfig() override;
+
     PROJECT::LIB_TYPE_T getLibType() override { return PROJECT::LIB_TYPE_T::SYMBOL_LIB; }
 
 private:
-    /**
-     * Flag to only show the symbol library table load progress dialog the first time.
-     */
-    static bool        m_show_progress;
-
     SYMBOL_LIBRARY_ADAPTER*  m_adapter;
 
     std::set<wxString> m_pending_load_libraries;
diff --git a/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.cpp b/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.cpp
index cd40fef9a6..08be08cc6d 100644
--- a/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ LIB_ID SYMBOL_VIEWER_FRAME::m_currentSymbol;
 
 int SYMBOL_VIEWER_FRAME::m_unit = 1;
 int SYMBOL_VIEWER_FRAME::m_bodyStyle = 1;
-bool SYMBOL_VIEWER_FRAME::m_show_progress = true;
 
 
 BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE( SYMBOL_VIEWER_FRAME, SCH_BASE_FRAME )
diff --git a/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.h b/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.h
index 82ad09d48e..49688b784d 100644
--- a/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.h
+++ b/eeschema/symbol_viewer_frame.h
@@ -171,7 +171,6 @@ private:
 
     static int          m_unit;
     static int          m_bodyStyle;
-    static bool         m_show_progress;
 
     /**
      * Updated to `true` if a list rewrite on GUI activation resulted in the symbol
diff --git a/include/lib_tree_model_adapter.h b/include/lib_tree_model_adapter.h
index ff3932111b..27be4c39c9 100644
--- a/include/lib_tree_model_adapter.h
+++ b/include/lib_tree_model_adapter.h
@@ -353,6 +353,8 @@ protected:
     LIB_TREE_NODE_LIBRARY& DoAddLibraryNode( const wxString& aNodeName, const wxString& aDesc,
                                              bool pinned );
 
+    virtual void loadColumnConfig();
+
     /**
      * Check whether a container has columns too
      */
@@ -426,18 +428,19 @@ protected:
     void recreateColumns();
     void createMissingColumns();
 
-    LIB_TREE_NODE_ROOT           m_tree;
-    std::map<unsigned, wxString> m_colIdxMap;
-    std::vector<wxString>        m_availableColumns;
-
-    wxDataViewCtrl*              m_widget;
-    std::vector<wxString>        m_shownColumns;   // Stored in display order
-    std::function<void()>        m_lazyLoadHandler;
-
-private:
+protected:
     EDA_BASE_FRAME*              m_parent;
     APP_SETTINGS_BASE::LIB_TREE& m_cfg;
 
+    LIB_TREE_NODE_ROOT           m_tree;
+    std::map<unsigned, wxString> m_colIdxMap;
+    std::vector<wxString>        m_availableColumns;
+    std::map<wxString, int>      m_colWidths;
+    std::vector<wxString>        m_shownColumns;   // Stored in display order
+    wxDataViewCtrl*              m_widget;
+    std::function<void()>        m_lazyLoadHandler;
+
+private:
     SORT_MODE                    m_sort_mode;
     bool                         m_show_units;
     LIB_ID                       m_preselect_lib_id;
@@ -448,7 +451,6 @@ private:
 
     std::vector<wxDataViewColumn*>               m_columns;
     std::map<wxString, wxDataViewColumn*>        m_colNameMap;
-    std::map<wxString, int>                      m_colWidths;
 };
 
 #endif // LIB_TREE_MODEL_ADAPTER_H