How to Create Rules for a Book Club

A book club is a great way to meet new people, get out for an evening and discuss the book of the month, but without a few rules put into place this can become a less than great experience. So whether your book club is just forming or it is in need of a little revamping, by following these easy steps, the club will be running smoothly in no time.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Keep in mind that everyone who joined the club made that choice. You are not forcing them to be there against their will. These rules will improve book club for everyone.

2. Decide if you want to lay the ground rules yourself or if you would like to open the discussion to the group. Email, group surveys or in person conversations all work fine, you should pick the means of communication that works best for your group.

3. Consider whether members should be held accountable. This includes how often they are expected to attend meetings, if they are expected to have read the whole book, and the amount of conversation participation that is expected.

4. Determine who selects the book, the location and the meeting day and time for the book club. Although these might not seem like rules that need to be followed, they are guides to help avoid conflict at a later time and should be established as rules.

5. Establish the flow of meetings. An open floor for conversation will be very different than a book club conversation that has a structure. Remember neither is a better option, but you want to make sure that all the members are on the same page.

6. Consider who can invite new members and how they will fit into the group. Clear rules about this can prevent awkward situations later.

Tips & Warnings

• Rules are meant to establish expectations and prevent future problems. Do not let the rules become a bigger focus than the book or the group.