In this insightful interview Rachel Jacobsohn, the founder of the Association of Professional Book Club Facilitators, explains the role of facilitators in book club discussions and offers advice to book groups who would like to hire one. She also talks about her own organization and a book she wrote in the 1990s, THE READING GROUP GUIDE HANDBOOK.

Q: What is a book club facilitator?

RJ: A book group facilitator is a professional contracted to guide a group of participants through a thought-provoking, interactive discussion of a select title.

Q: What are the advantages of a group using a facilitator?

RJ: Participants can expect the facilitator to keep the discussion on track, to educate members, and motivate and inspire them to expand and deepen their thinking about the title.

Q: Are some groups better suited to have a facilitator than others?

RJ: Yes. Desire for, and need for, outside leadership determines whether a group will seek a facilitator.

Q: When/how should a book club decide to use a facilitator?

RJ: When members feel unsatisfied by the group dynamics and/or the depth of the discussion.

Q: Is there any point when it should stop using a facilitator?

RJ: Yes, when a facilitator brings nothing "to the table," and wastes their time and money.

Q: What can a facilitator teach a book club that the members can use once the facilitator is no longer leading the group?

RJ: Everything he or she knows. Okay, really, ways to self-lead, ways to ask provocative questions, ways to listen, really listen to each other, ways to take the inquiry into deeper and deeper levels of thinking about both structure and substance of the book.

Q: How long have you been a facilitator and how many clubs are you currently facilitating?

RJ: I have professionally facilitated groups for 30 years. At one point I was with about 30 groups that met monthly (some bi-monthly, some semi-monthly); now I have about 15 groups.

Q: How are facilitators compensated?

RJ: Most in money. Some barter for services/goods. Individuals pay me for membership in groups I organize, liaisons pay me after she/he collects from members in groups that are already organized.

Q: Does a facilitator select the books for a group, or is that something that the group does itself?

RJ: Groups work both ways. I query my groupies in the spring for suggested titles and then create a syllabus I work from for the calendar year.

Q: You formed a group called Association of Professional Book Club Facilitators. How did this come about? When did you start? How do people join your organization? How many members does it have?

RJ: I formed ABGRL after my book was originally published in 1994. The organization's publication, Reverberations, was an offspring of a previous newsletter I wrote and published, Reading Women, which emerged in 1989. ABGRL does NOT advertise and maintains a membership of approximately 1,000 members, almost all of whom belong to at least one book group, if not more. People can join by sending a $20 annual membership fee to:

ABGRL
P.O. Box 885
Highland Park, IL 60035.

Q: How does one go about becoming a facilitator?

RJ: I have been training people for several years. Your readers can contact me and we can go from there. Those interested can also contact The Great Books Foundation for another kind of training.

Q: Can you connect reading groups with a facilitator in their area? If so, how should groups contact you?

RJ: Some ABGRL members are volunteer and professional facilitators. I can cull that info from ABGRL's database, which is available to members.

Q: You wrote a book called THE READING GROUP GUIDE HANDBOOK. How did that book come about? It was published in 1998. In the past five years has anything changed that you might add in an updated version? 

RJ: A visionary young editor at Hyperion sensed the flourishing of book groups in America and sent a letter of inquiry to the Reading Women P.O. Box, little knowing that at that point in time I had many years of experience that I could share with readers. That was in 1992. Oh yes, even between the original publication in 1994 and the revised edition of 1998 I was able to include info on websites and on Oprah's book club and some of her titles. My essays changed also, because my thinking is constantly being revised as to readers' relationships with the books. At this point, I do have another idea for a book that will aid readers to think more deeply about their reading choices. 

Q: People say there are now more book clubs than ever before. Would you agree with this?

RJ: Oh yes! Journalists forced a figure from me when my book first came out. From my rough "guesstimate" in 1994 of 250,000, I think the number of groups in this country has grown to over 750,000. And that's a conservative "guesstimate."

Q: Do you have any more advice for those considering hiring a book club facilitator?

RJ: Yes. List what skills you are looking for. Ask how the leadership of a discussion is accomplished. Discuss and agree upon fee, and don't make the poor thing stand around and wait for it as if it was a church basket. There should be mutual respect between the group and the facilitator. Contract for 1-3 sessions before deciding on a more permanent arrangement. Ask for what you want!!!

Q: Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

RJ: I take my work seriously, but do not take myself too seriously. I love my work and have much fun interacting with the participants. My work is fun --- and ever so enriching.