-
Step 1
If you know a few people interested in joining a book club, you’re halfway there. If you don’t, try posting notices in libraries, online, in your local paper or near bookstores. List your phone number or email address and ask people to respond with the best day of the week for them to have a book club meeting.
-
Step 2
Decide which day is best for most people and declare that as your book club meeting day. You will have a meeting once a month and there’s always the opportunity to change the day of the week according to your member’s needs.
-
Step 3
For the first meeting, choose a book a month in advance and let the members know what it is. Do this by creating an email list with everyone’s contact information.
-
Step 4
Suggest that each member bring a little something to eat as a courtesy to the person who is hosting the book club that month. Obviously, if you’re meeting in a restaurant, this doesn’t apply!
-
Step 5
At your first book club meeting, take suggestions at the end for the next book your group should read. Then take a vote and decide on a book. You can either suggest that for the future members bring a short list of books they’d like to read and you’ll make a group decision or just take turns picking the next book. This way, everyone gets a chance to have their book choice.
-
Step 6
You might not want to choose books that are very popular because these are sometimes hard to get. Many members will want to take the book out of the library rather than have to buy a new book each month. And if the book is brand new, it will be very expensive to buy. So, avoid choosing titles that have just come out.
-
Step 7
To lead a great book club, make sure everyone gets to speak her opinion. Try not to let any one person dominate the conversation. If that happens, gently jump in and steer the conversation to someone else.
-
Step 8
If it looks like a heated discussion is going to start getting unpleasant, gently remind everyone that you are all there to have fun and respect other’s opinions, even if you don’t agree with them. Try to lighten the mood (use humor if possible) and start a new discussion.
-
Step 9
Before ending the night, ask for a volunteer to host the next book club. If that’s not possible, consider meeting in a coffee house, bookstore or some other suitable place.
Comments
bookmom said
on 5/16/2008 I've been thinking about starting a book club for some time. Thanks for the great tips...it sounds fun and pretty easy!