Getting Started with Book Clubs
- What is a Book Club
- How Does it Work? / How to Start One
- Book Clubs at Toronto Public Library
- Resources
What is a Book Club?
A book club is a reading group, usually consisting of a number of people who read an agreed upon title in advance and meet to talk about it. Tiles are based on a topic or member selected/approved reading list. Usually members choose a specific book to read and discuss at the same time. Formal book clubs meet on a regular basis at a set location and time. Most book clubs meet monthly in order to give members time to read the next book. Book clubs can have a specific focus e.g. literary critique or less academic topics. Some book clubs are focused on a certain genre, such as Mystery, Romance, or Horror. There are book clubs dedicated to a particular author or series. Most book clubs have a series of questions to kick start the discussion.
How Does it Work? / How to Start One
Members meet at a mutually decided space and scheduled date and time to discuss a book that they have all read or listened to. Through sharing their thoughts, members build a richer understanding of the title than can be gained from independently reading alone.
A number of resources are available on starting your own book club from selecting a venue, selecting the titles for discussion, inviting members, facilitation, tips, and best practices. These include publishers’ sites and site pages such as:
- BookBrowse – Starting a Book Club
- LitLovers.com – How to Start a Book Club
- Penguin Random House – How to Start a Book Club
The library’s eRexource, NoveList Plus: Your Guide to Reading has a section on Book Club Resources that is useful for getting started with a book club with an article on Book Club Best Practices: Starting Your Book Club and help on where to begin.
Book Clubs at Toronto Public Library
There are many book clubs at Toronto Public Library, both in-person and online. These library staff-led book clubs feature various titles in a number of genres and types e.g. Audiobook, Dystopia, Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Romance, etc.
The Book Club Sets page provides information on “Book Club To Go” set, multiple copies of one title (great for Book Clubs) including what it is, how to borrow, loan period, reservation, pick-up, and return. The library has over 300 titles separated into:
- Book Club Sets to Go – All Titles
- Book Club Sets to Go – Recent Additions
- Book Club Sets to Go – 2SLGBTQ+
- Book Club Sets to Go – Books by Black Authors
- Book Club Sets to Go – French
- Book Club Sets to Go – Indigenous
Library staff can facilitate book club members getting a title for their book club and/or help them to manage their holds so they receive a featured title in time to read and attend the book club meeting / discussion. Staff can also make suggestions on titles that can spark lively discussions at book club meeting e.g.: Let’s Talk! Best for Book Clubs; Talk about Books – Perfect for Book Clubs
Resources
- BookClubs
- The Inner Lives of Book Clubs, 2019
- Readers’ Digest How to Start a Book Club: The Complete Guide
- ThoughtCo.
Questions? Need Assistance? Please reach out to Branch Staff at a location of your choosing or call Answerline at 416-397-5981.
Revised: January 22, 2025
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