book club

Cook the Book Club

Once per month, we host a cookbook club-meets-potluck event that always draws a crowd. Each member picks a recipe from the same book (voted on by the group) and they bring in the dish to share.

The result is a potluck with lots of talk about cooking and recipes and how to improve on them. And it's about community, getting to know our neighbors and making new friends, with an opportunity for many of our refugee and new American patrons to practice English with native speakers in a fun, social setting.

Books & Libations: A New Way to RA

In this adult evening program, participants learn about six spectacular books and sample six amazing local beverages at tasting stations.

Each book is paired with a beverage matched in tone and intensity to the book. Program partners have included wineries, coffee roasters and tea shops.

Titles selected for this program are usually “under-performers” in our community — books that were highly reviewed but haven’t circulated well. After the program, most circulate much better and for an extended period of time: circulation stays elevated on each title for up to two years.

Shorts & Stouts

Woman reading book next to glass of beer

Shorts & Stouts is a monthly short story discussion group held a local brewery. Each month the discussion focuses on a pair of stories by a single author.

No stout purchase is required for participation. :)

Sweet Treat Book Club

A small chocolate cake sits on a plate on top of an open book. A tea cup and tea pot are in the background.

I love teen book clubs! They encourage teens to read something new and provide great enrichment by asking them to examine what they've read. They soak up new vocabulary words, figure out the storyline, and learn about the characters. A small chocolate cake sits on a plate on top of an open book. A tea cup and tea pot are in the background.

Virtual Book Clubs: A Learning Experience

Palos Verdes Library District (PVLD) staff members felt ready to take the leap into the world of virtual book clubs in the time of a pandemic.

Photo of an open book.

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Book Club Going Virtual? Consider These 3 Things

Drawn image of a computer with three people shown on screen similar to what's seen when on video calls

Are you considering taking your book club online? Before you take the plunge, pause to ask yourself (and/or your participants) these three questions.

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online program ideas for libraries

Reel ‘Em In! Get Secondary Students Hooked on Self-Selected Titles

Hand selecting a book from several on a shelf

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) share six Common Beliefs in their 2018 National School Library Standards. One that stands out to us is the belief that “reading is the core of academic and personal competency.”

"School librarians," the standards go on to state, "initiate and elevate and motivate reading initiatives by using story and personal narrative to engage learners.”

Book Club Reboot: Creative Twists on the Reading Groups We Know and Love

In this session, the authors of “Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists” (ALA Editions, 2019) will share out-of-the-box ways to spice up your book clubs. From unique meeting locations, to reaching niche populations, to time-saving techniques and savvy partnerships, you will leave with ideas to put to work in your library right away.

Read more about Book Club Reboot: Creative Twists on the Reading Groups We Know and Love

APPLY NOW: Great Stories Club Series on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation

Library workers are invited to apply for the American Library Association’s Great Stories Club series on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT), a thematic reading and discussion program that engages underserved teens through literature-based library outreach programs and racial healing work.

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Afternoon Book Tasting

Table and chairs with book shelf behind it

This readers' advisory program, held in a local café with drinks and appetizers, functioned on a wine tasting model. Attendees were given RA profiles for books, heard a brief introduction to RA, and spent the evening sampling and discussing a series of titles from four genre/style categories.

Read more about Afternoon Book Tasting

Reboot Your Book Club with the Help of ALA’s Public Programs Office

Book cover for "Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists"

Is your book club feeling stale or uninspired? Has attendance dropped, or are you struggling to keep your patrons engaged? What you need is a reboot. “Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists,” published by ALA Editions in cooperation with ALA’s Public Programs Office profiles dozens of successful book clubs across the country.

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Book Club Round-Up: From Our Archives

Book clubs: libraries love them, and with good reason. Reading groups are a great way to bring communities together, highlight collections and share our love of reading.

There are many different twists on the familiar book club, from clubs without required reading to those that incorporate films or food. We have highlighted several creative book club models on Programming Librarian; here are a few of our favorites.

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APPLY NOW: Great Stories Club on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation

Library professionals are invited to apply for ALA’s Great Stories Club series on Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT). This thematic reading and discussion program series will engage underserved teens through literature-based library outreach programs and racial healing work.

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Professional Development

Learn More: Great Stories Club

In this free, 60-minute webinar, presenters will discuss the Great Stories Club program and application process, in advance of the July 9 application deadline. Learn more about the Great Stories Club.

Webinar topics will include:

Read more about Learn More: Great Stories Club

You Can’t Taste a Book by Its Cover: Book Tastings in the Library

Are your students hungry for good books? Do your patrons eagerly devour the newest titles? Do you ever wish you had a recipe for increasing kids’ appetite for reading?

APPLY NOW: 'The Great American Read' Grants for Public Libraries

Public libraries may apply for grants to host public programs around the PBS series “The Great American Read,” an eight-part television and online series designed to spark a national conversation about reading and the books that have inspired, moved, and shaped us, the ALA Public Programs Office announced.

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APPLY NOW: Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Great Stories Club

ALA invites libraries to apply for a pilot of the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Great Stories Club, a thematic reading and discussion program series that will engage underserved teens through literature-based library outreach programs and racial healing work.

The TRHT GSC is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

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Professional Development

5 'Garnishes' to Add to Your Booktalk Programs for Adults

A lot of work goes into putting together a successful booktalk program — from developing a theme, to paying attention to book trends, to ensuring you're providing diverse options for all readers. The last thing you might want to do is add any extra work, but a few finishing touches will go a long way.

Here are a few ways you can create a memorable program while further immersing your adult patrons into their love of books.

Sarah Jessica Parker Kicks Off ALA Book Club Central

Looking to try something new with your library's book clubs (or your personal one)? Maybe something with a dose of celebrity? Announcing Book Club Central — and its first honorary chair, actress and book lover Sarah Jessica Parker.

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APPLY NOW: Great Stories Club 2017

Great Stories Club: Nature vs. Nurture: Origins of Teen Violence and Suicide

ALA's Public Programs Office invites libraries to apply for the Great Stories Club, a reading and discussion program for underserved teens featuring books under the theme “Nature vs. Nurture: Origins of Teen Violence and Suicide.” The project is supported with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Great Stories Club 2017: Nature vs Nurture