BOOK GROUPS – HOW TO START YOUR OWN

21 Mar BOOK GROUPS – HOW TO START YOUR OWN

20 TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED

What is already available

• See if any of your friends have a space in their group.
• Check to see if your local library runs any groups
• See if the local library has a notice board where groups can list and interested readers can enquire.
• Open groups:  The Women’s Library in Newtown has one and so does the SMSA in Pitt Street.
• Try a website – a Facebook page or Meetup.com could be used or use Ten Forty’s Contact service.

LOCATION AND NUMBERS

• If the group meets at a private home 8 to 10 members is a comfortable number and allows for absences and drop outs.
• If you use a public location such as a small meeting room at library, local hall or pub or club, then you can cater for larger numbers.
• In general 8-10 members is good for easy discussion – with more than that you really need a group leader/facilitator to make sure everyone gets a chance to contribute.
• Even with small friendship groups it is useful to have one person nominally in charge, so that discussion can be focussed on the books rather than becoming group chat only.
• This person can also be the discussion leader, introducing the book, giving its background ( wonders of Wikipedia).  Or this task can be given to the person who nominated the book.

FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

• Most groups seem to meet monthly.
• With longer periods momentum seems to get lost and public holidays etc affect meeting dates.
• If the period is too short members may have trouble finding/ reading the book.

CHOICE OF BOOKS

• Some groups have a speaker on the day who introduces a favourite book.
• Others work from meeting to meeting nominating or handing out books for the next meeting.
• Some prepare a list for six or even 12 months ahead.
• Some read books only in certain genres:  travel, detective stories, prize winners, non-fiction, or may rely on suggestions from members.

SUPPLY OF BOOKS

•  Some libraries will supply sets of up to ten books for groups. Some groups           have a kitty to buy books to share and then donate to the library.
• Many use library and other ebooks BUT they can’t lend them,
• PS: To buy online, try local sellers or www.booksandcollectibles.com.au or Ebay

Jan Aitkin (ambrosia@bigpond.com)