May 2009

Stacy DeLano and Andrea Kane are librarians at the Stillwater Public Library in Oklahoma, which hosts two book clubs. In this interview, they describe the importance of keeping their groups small and intimate, and explain how the loose and open structure of their meetings works best for their discussions. They also list some of the resources their library makes available to other local clubs and share one of the more amusing aspects of having members of varying ages and backgrounds.

Q: Does your library host any book clubs? If so, are they based on a certain theme or genre (ie, mystery)? How often do the groups meet?

A: Our library currently hosts two book clubs based on general literature and "bookclubby" books (if that is such a thing). Each group meets once a month.

Q: How many members are in each group? How many men, how many women? What ages are most of the members? Are the groups open to accepting new members?

A: We are pretty adamant about limiting our groups to no more than 10. It is just so much more intimate and you can get to know members better and feel more free to share. As we receive inquiries, we consider opening additional groups at different times and days. Generally, though, we really hope to just get a network of book clubs together throughout the community so that interested parties can join groups that have openings.

Q: Who leads the book discussions? Are reading group discussion guides used?

A: No one really leads the group except in the rare cases that the conversation lags or we need to get started, in which case, Andrea or I will step in to lead. We began the club using book discussion guides, but we decided that the formal use of guides often limited or stifled our own thoughts on the book. If someone chooses to use a guide, we encourage them to look at it only after they have read and thought about the book. There have been many times when I have brought a guide to the discussion and found that not a single thing we talked about was on the discussion guide. Conversely, the leader of our library's other book club always uses guides and her group really seems to thrive on a guide to help them pre-consider the discussion.

Q: How are books selected? Is a new one chosen at each meeting, or are they chosen for a number of meetings ahead of time?

A: We choose books about every five to six months, whenever we can get a chunk of money through state library aid or our Friends of the Library group. Our Friends group has been amazing about supporting this program. We take suggestions from the members of our "test" group, the group that gets to book club the titles first. We supplement those suggestions with ideas we get from ReadingGroupGuides.com and the general knowledge Andrea has from having to read book reviews all day long.

Q: What were some of the best discussions or favorite books the groups have read?

A: Our discussion of Snow Falling on Cedars was really nice because everyone loved the book so much, and it led to very interesting discussions about World War II and Japanese Internment in the US --- some of our members knew people who had experienced this. The Photograph by Penelope Lively led to a very good discussion because the characters were so well written. I really enjoyed doing The Memory of Running by Ron McLarty because it was such a fun (although very dark) book.

Q: How are book club meetings kept interesting and fun?

A: We have a mix of different personalities, ages and genders that bring varying world views and experiences into the discussion. It is good to have backup questions to ask the group if there is a lull in discussion. Snacks (we try to bring food that has something to do with the theme or setting in the book) are also very important!

Q: What advice would you give to other libraries that would like to start hosting book clubs, or provide resources for ones in the community? What are the benefits to hosting book clubs at a library?

A: Start checking your book donations for repeat copies of the same title. It is a good way to create free kits. Hosting book clubs at the library creates good will in the community and keeps people excited about learning, having fun, and socializing through reading.

Q: What general advice would you give to book club members? Any specific ideas for making reading selections?

A: It is sometimes a good idea to take notes/write down questions as you are reading as you may forget your thoughts by the time the group meets. Some of our members make lists of the characters when there are several to keep track of (i.e. in The Shadow of the Wind). We use book reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and Amazon to find potential titles. We also browse sites like www.readinggroupguides.com.

Q: How can book clubs better utilize resources at their local libraries?

A: Definitely by asking the acquisitions librarians about suggestions for book club books. These librarians go through hundreds of book reviews a day and are really good about getting the "buzz" on current book club-worthy books. Also, book clubs should ask about using library "space." As a book club member in a private, non-library group, one of the most dreaded book club hosting tasks is cleaning your house! Just ask at the library --- they generally have rooms for use, lots of parking, and furniture free of dog hair!

Q: Does your library offer anything special for book clubs?

A: We buy 10 copies of the book we choose, then add one recipe and a set of discussion questions from ReadingGroupGuides.com. We make these into bagged kits that check out to other local book clubs. We've been very excited that three local groups have registered for this program already in the month since we began offering the service.

Q: Do you have any horror stories, amusing anecdotes, or other tales to tell that you have heard from book clubs?

A: The most amusing things that seem to happen in our book club are when some of us younger members get the shock of our lives to hear some of the racier events that happened in the younger lives of our oldest members. It has been a great intergenerational program that has allowed people of very different ages a chance to see each other as peers, but sometimes it is very funny! As to specifics, though…I read the response of another librarian interview on your site and I agree --- what happens in book club, stays in book club!

Q: Is there anything else unique or noteworthy about book clubs (either ones that meet in your library or ones that you know of) that you would like to share?

A: Book clubs are just an incredible way to bring your community together. As libraries become less needed for ready reference, they become more important than ever in providing opportunities for face to face social interaction and connecting readers to each other. Book clubs are a perfect way to achieve this.

Q: Are you a member of a book club? If so, what do you enjoy most about the experience from a reader's perspective? Does being in a book club enable you to better suggest both titles and discussion ideas to reading groups?

A: I am the member of a book club that is separate from the library. We always serve a full meal that fits the theme of the book, and it is just a great way to keep in touch with old friends and to make new ones. Being around other people who value books is invigorating. My outside book club is very different from my library book club. Because of the type of books we read, I do not suggest them to other book clubs, but I definitely do use them as a tool for reader's advisory with library users.

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