Linda Slaninka, the Director of the Swanton Public Library in Swanton, OH, facilitates her library’s book club with great pride. She shares her thoughts on the responsibilities of book club participants to ensure a successful conversation and talks about how each of us can encourage our local library to make the reading experience more accessible to all.

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 group meets once a month (offering an afternoon and an evening session). We select books that are well reviewed and recommended by sites such as yours!

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 have about 15 members with only one loyal and very vocal male participant (a former high school literature teacher). Our members are mostly middle age to seniors. We are always open to the public and new members of all ages.

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

A: The librarian (me) facilitates the discussion with questions that are selected from reading group guides listed on sites like ReadingGroupGuides.com.

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: The librarian selects books based on member suggestions, reviews, availability in various formats and participants’ interests. I publish the list each year.

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

A: Our group has read all types of fiction and nonfiction. It's surprising, but they really bring up Travels with Charlie by John Steinbeck as one of their favorites. We also had an excellent discussion of The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Our discussions are always lively, and even if we disagree on the book's message, we part as friends.

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

A: There is always a lot of laughter at our meetings. I think it is important to be open-minded and not censure any comment. The fun just happens when people don't feel intimidation.

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: Don't wait. It is one of the most enjoyable experiences of my job --- in fact it doesn't even feel like it is part of the "job." Our library has been able to define a core group of people who truly enjoy sharing the pleasure of reading. Members comment often that they have really enjoyed the fact that being in a book discussion has helped them read and enjoy books they would not have selected on their own. Expanding horizons is what book discussions and libraries are all about.

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

A: I do suggest you read the book before selecting it for the group. I don't always do this and sometimes am surprised at the outcome. Advice to members: please read the book if you plan to attend. If you haven't finished the book, it is difficult to share insights and you may tend to stray from the real discussion purpose. So, in both cases, it's all about reading the book.

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

A: Libraries can provide books through interlibrary loan for discussion use, but requests need to be made well in advance of use dates. We can also provide extended loan periods. Try asking your library for various formats like audio and large print, so all readers can be included. Your readers can avail themselves of these services at no cost. Also, your librarian is an excellent source for finding websites that offer discussion questions.

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

A: We provide all formats for checkout on a special month-long loan. Books are distributed to any interested readers, not just those who attend the group. We also offer companion programming on occasion and have participated in community reading grants for our region.

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

A: A couple of times I have chosen books that the group members have refused to let me forget. They never fail to bring up these titles in a playful way. I won't mention what the books were, but I know that down deep, the fact that they haven't forgotten these selections means that they made an impact in some weird way on their reading life.

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: Our group has enjoyed giving the books we read a third dimension. For example, after reading Eat Cake, we enjoyed cake made from the recipes in the book; after reading The Passion of Artemesia, a member of the group shared her vacation photos of sites mentioned in the book; after reading The Grapes of Wrath, we invited those who had lived through the Depression to share their personal stories, and so on...

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 tried joining a book club in addition to the one I facilitate but found it too overwhelming. I hope I can form a cottage book club to meet in homes when I retire.

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