9 unique library book clubs to reinvent your reading routine
Whether you’re a seasoned pro and have been hosting book clubs at your library for years or this is a new role and programming opportunity for you, book clubs are always a great way to engage with the readers in your community and encourage connection and discussion.
Book clubs are one area where you can be really creative with your theme — including not having one! If you’re looking to go beyond the traditional format, we have put together a list of some out-of-the-box book clubs our library partners are hosting on a regular basis.
Book Club Best Practices
- Have both in-person and virtual book club options to maximize participation.
- Create book club kits that can be checked out for local book clubs in your community. Kits can contain several copies of the selected title, book discussion questions, author information, and more.
- Consistency of schedule is helpful for readers to plan for future events, whether it’s the first Monday of every quarter or the third Saturday of every month.
- Consider taking the book club off site! Partner with a local restaurant, pub, brewery, etc., for a change in scenery.
- Check out websites like ReadingGroupGuides.com for guides, discussion questions, author biographies, and more.
- Download the Check Out Your Library marketing assets available on the Resource Center and use the Canva-customizable graphics and logos to promote your upcoming book club on social media!
Unique book clubs that get readers reading
Stone Soup Book Club
Newton County Library System (GA)
Rather than everyone reading the same book, Newton County Library System’s Stone Soup Book Club is all about everyone contributing any book of their choice that fits a selected author or subject. Participants of this 100% virtual book club are encouraged to rate their book selection, and at the end of the program the librarians compile all of the titles into a brand new reading list of similar books! Past topics have included Travel, Decades (1980-2010), and Mystery.
Girls Night Out Book Club
This Irving Public Library monthly book club for adults is aimed at women and focuses on books about family relationships, love, friendship, and self-discovery. Upcoming titles include The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave, Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney, The Huntress by Kate Quinn, and The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray.
What’s Cooking? Recipe and Book Club
Cookbooks can make excellent book club suggestions because they are interactive! In the What’s Cooking? Recipe and Book Club at Billerica Public Library, participants are encouraged to share recipes, experiences, and samples with other amateur chefs and home-cooking enthusiasts. Each month has a different theme, and the club meets once a month at the library to share their treats with each other. Past themes have included Strawberries, Spring Dishes, Cake, and Breakfast!
Read Between the Wines
Westerville Public Library (OH)
You’ve heard of pairing wine and cheese, but Westerville Public Library takes that a step further by meeting up at a local pub and pairing great reads and great wine! Upcoming titles include A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum, The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd, Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom, The Last Lifeboat by Hazel Gaynor, and The Invoice by Jonas Karlsson.
From Page to Palette Book Club
Northville District Library (MI)
In partnership with the Northville Art House, NDL hosts a book club that focuses on fiction about art history’s most famous (and infamous) figures. Readers see the story come to life through presentations and art-making activities inspired by the selected title.
NDL also keeps a curated collection of the titles selected for all their book clubs throughout the year. See the 2024 list here.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Discussion
Cuyahoga County Public Library (OH)
Genre-based book clubs aren’t new. What makes the one at CCPL unique is there are always two discussions for a particular book: one in person, then a virtual option the following week. This allows for more flexibility for participants because they can choose which date/format works for them, or even participate twice! Selected book club titles have included The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz, The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, and This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone.
Made Into Movies
Washington Public Library (MO)
Is the book always better than the movie? That’s the question Washington Public Library’s Made Into Movies film and book club sets out to answer. After watching the film, a short discussion about the adaptation follows where readers can decide for themselves which was better. Selected titles have included Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg.
Travel Fiction Book Club
Take a trip around the world using your library card as your passport! Each month, readers at D.C. Public Library gather to discuss a book set in a different country. Participants are encouraged to bring their own travel experiences to the discussion! Selected titles include The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen, Girl at War by Sara Nović, and Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Silent Book Club
Do you ever miss the silent reading portion of grade school? Camus Public Library hosts their own Silent Book Club that is B.Y.O.B. (In this case, B.Y.O.B. stands for Bring Your Own Book, or you can of course borrow one from the library!) No assigned reading with this book club — everyone brings their own selected title to read silently for an hour, followed by optional socializing or even more reading. As an introvert, I am all in with this one.
About the author: Jill Grunenwald is a Marketing & Communications Specialist on the North America Public Library Marketing Team. A former librarian, she joined OverDrive in 2015. Outside of the office she can be found writing, hanging out with her cats, collecting more Tarot decks than she has room for, and playing competitive pinball. Her favorite genre is something she calls “Murder at an educational institution that involves a close-knit group of suspicious characters.”
