Table of Contents
Types of Book Groups
Library run
Book groups run by a staff member from the Library. Library staff assist in choosing the reading material and in leading the discussion. These may be a single title or open or themed. Hosted in the library Book groups run by the members of the group. Their meetings are held within a library, and the library is responsible for promoting the group and supplying the reading material. Library staff do not run the meetings, or choose the reading material. Specialist book groups These groups focus on a specific genre or section of the community.
Self managed book groups
Some libraries run a service that provides sets of books for existing groups and groups that form specifically to use the service.
- Riverina Regional Library: Each group member must be a member of the library which increases the library's memberships. The groups have a maximum of 10 members and pay $400 per year, this works out at $4 per member, per month. Each month the groups receive a tub with 10 copies of 1 title, background notes about the author and book, a DVD of the film adaptation, an audio book and suggested discussion questions. The service runs for 10 months in the year.
- Wingecarribee Public Library Book Clubs: who are registered with Wingecarribee Public Library can borrow Book Club Kits. Any member of Wingecarribee Public Library can register a Book Club. The kit tubs contain10 copies of one title and a folder with background author and title notes and suggested discussion questions. The only charges for this service are replacement costs for loss or damage to any part of the kit.
Private book group services
CAE is a private service that book groups can use to borrow sets of books and discussion notes.CAE Book Groups meet together once a month for discussion. Our groups must have between 8 and 15 members. They meet in their homes, or in public libraries, or neighbourhood houses, or cafes… There are no tutors, there is no written work – the groups are self-directed. A set of books, carefully boxed, is sent to each group once a month on loan. Groups nominate a Secretary responsible for organising the receipt and return of boxes to CAE. Groups choose their books from the catalogue which lists over 1,000 briefly annotated titles, ranging from the latest prize winners and contemporary fiction to the classics, biography and autobiography, history, politics, social issues, philosophy, and a large collection of art titles complete with slides. New titles are added every year. It covers topics such as reading critically, focusing discussion and the all important matter of group dynamics.
Private book groups may use some library resources, while sourcing their own reading material.