Adult Services Roundtable, 1/20/22
Topic: Book
Clubs, Old & New
Attendees:
Pam, Hoover
Shannon, HooverSam, Springville Road
Holley, O’Neal
Leslie, Avondale
Tisha, Leeds
Daniel, Vestavia
Nicole, Tarrant
Sue, Hueytown
Terri, Vestavia
Cara, Center Point
Zach, North Birmingham
William, BPL
Michele, Irondale
Lea, Hoover
Melanie, Hoover
Reba, Titusville
Meeting Video:
Links to remember:
APLS, Book Club Sets - https://apls.libguides.com/bookclub/sets
Hoover Library Book Club Kits - https://www.hooverlibrary.org/book-club-kits
Irondale’s Book Club listings via Vega Showcases: https://jeffa.na.iiivega.com/library-list/showcase/5e65cc91-0e2a-40b9-9ae5-8c13ec705cef
From Elizabeth Swift, Meeting Recording with discussion of setting up Vega curated showcases –
Vega Showcases-20210519_102756-Meeting Recording.mp4
(As per Elizabeth, she will be conducting Vega showcase training Feb. 1 at 11 am. An email will come out soon describing this training opportunity, along with sign up.)
Meeting Owl information (device used for in-person + virtual book clubs (used at Hoover): https://tinyurl.com/hx3nd432
PolyCom, Videoconferencing information (used at O’Neal): https://tinyurl.com/9a2uucxv
GoodReads page for Hoover’s new BYOBook Club, focus on diverse books: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1176351-byobook-club-east-59-lee-branch
Hoover Library’s Book Discussion Group links https://www.hooverlibrary.org/goodbooks#book-discussion
Meeting Minutes:
Book club moderating does not really take any special skills except enthusiasm. Finding book recommendations for book groups is easy online, but can also come from the members of the book club. Many libraries are limited by how many copies are available at any given time in the catalog. Some libraries take advantage of book kits (through Hoover or APLS).
Michelle, Irondale – One adult book club (11 years old) with about 6 members. Throughout the year, suggestions are taken and lists are kept of great books. They keep notepads with lists for staff and patrons to add titles. They also purchase one extra electronic copy that is available to Irondale patrons of each book club selection. Details before voting include page numbers and reviews so patrons can decide. They vote in person once a year. They choose mostly fiction but some nonfiction. Michelle also created a Vega Showcase (mentioned above) to show titles – get permission from Elizabeth Swift (she will be posting classes to teach this skill very soon.) Even when patrons suggest titles, each needs to be vetted with professional reviews and appropriateness.
**Avoid falling into diatribes of politics, religion or controversial issues (don’t avoid these “hot topic” books but skill needs to be taken to keep the group discussion from devolving.)
Michelle also mentioned several podcasts that have helped her in discussing books. The Experiment and Zora's Daughters. The audio on Zora's daughters is sometimes low. But I really get a lot out of their discussions.
Pam, Hoover – Pam run a Book Talk group for HPL and traditional book group at our Senior Center, an outreach effort. Pam is the moderator and they vote every six months. The Senior Center group discusses both fiction & nonfiction. Each voting time, she selects about twelve titles. There is great interest in all types of books – they don’t want any special treatment as seniors. She does try to include one classic because there is interest. She utilizes email and USPS to get out the voting information. During in-person voting, Pam brings the physical books so they can see them.
Shannon, Hoover – virtual vs in-person vs hybrid – Hoover is trying to do both when possible. Some libraries are doing virtual but slowly moving back to in-person. There was a discussion of technology for creating a hybrid discussion. My selections are gleaned from online resources like GoodReads. There is a link to APLS “Book set” that can be borrowed for use in libraries above.
Interactive pages: Lea, Hoover, NovelTea book group has a Facebook group that is very popular.
Deidre, Bessemer – Utilizes book kits from Hoover, along with scouring the catalog for titles that are of interest. She also takes suggestions from their members. Great to have all formats too for different people’s needs. Bessemer utilizes conference call and it seems to work great for her members.
Bessemer's upcoming program (recommended book talk or speaker for your library)
Notice about an upcoming program at Bessemer: I Woke Up with My Mind on Freedom by Janice Kelsey. Program on her foot soldier experience available on Ingram. She would be a great speaker for anyone needing a Black History speaker. She was a part of the Children’s Crusade. This will be a Zoom program.
Holley, O’Neal – Total of four book groups that select traditionally. 20th Century Classics is a book group that Greg leads – selections are librarian-chosen and can be found in the catalog. They also have a short story group – they choose a collection of stories and examine a selection each time (one collection can last for 2 years!) There is also a “genre” reading group that has evolved – each person brings in any type of media/format as long as it fits the topic including movies, podcasts, news article, no limits.
Also, Holley makes available a simple bookmark that is designed for those that haven’t discussed books before or need help throughout the reading to keep their thoughts together. Email her at hwesley@oneallibrary.org if you’d like a copy.
Cara, Ct Pt – new library, new book group – all virtual for now but includes 2 out of state members. There is no physical place to have the book group in the library, and they close at 6 pm. Book group for now is done from Cara’s home virtually at night. Flexibility is key in this situation!
Terri, Vestavia – Three book groups overall. Terri leads a more traditional group that votes 2 or 3 times a year. Holly at VH also does one outside the library as outreach. She has had a people who have expressed a need for “happy” books or wondering why all the books are so complicated and sad – which led to a great discussion of what makes a good “discussable” book. VH uses social media and Vestavia Voice to promote. Changing to virtual led them to change the day of the week and time. Some members can be a challenge to
Sue, Hueytown – Traditional book club using a lot of book kits but also they try to have local authors who have published their own books. Join by Skype, Zoom or in-person. She also lets some of her patrons go off on tangents because it can lead to fun, uplifting discussions – keep it fun!!!
From Sue via email:
How are people who are moving back to in-person approaching the subject of vaccinations and/or wearing of masks? Michelle, Irondale uses several HEPA air purifiers in the room. Irondale asks patrons to wear masks but don’t require it. Many responses came up that most librarians request but can’t require mask wearing.
Melanie, Hoover – Beginning a new remote location diversity book group at our East 59 Café location. It will start in March 2022 afterhours – hopefully including those that work during the day. It’s called BYOBook Club – it will be more of a “book talk” group with open discussion of a variety of diverse topics. Utilizing QR codes on their marketing to link people to the group. The first theme is “women around the world”.
Below is a bookmark made at Hoover to help patrons keep notes on a book. Feel free to share!
Advice on starting a new book club:
https://www.epl.ca/blogs/post/how-to-start-a-book-club/
https://bookriot.com/how-to-start-a-book-club/
https://bookish.netgalley.com/book-club/01/2020/how-to-start-a-book-club/
https://bookclubs.com/blog/how-to-start-a-book-club
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/10/795288689/how-to-start-a-book-club-that-actually-meets
http://www.ilovelibraries.org/booklovers/bookclub/structure-meeting
