Starting a Reading Group
Can anyone start a Reading Group? Yes.
Reading Groups are where like minded people meet on a regular basis to discuss a particular book they have all read.
- Decide whether you want to open the group up by advertising for members or whether you want to ask friends, colleagues, family, friends of friends.
- Set up a place online where you can all keep in touch. Suffolk Reads can provide you with a dedicated page where you can do this.
- Decide where you want to meet. Some groups meet at the same venue every month, others ask its members to take turns to host the group. If you are looking for a venue for your group to meet in, get in touch with your local library.
- How often do you want to meet? 4 -6 weeks is a good time within which to stay otherwise meetings can become disjointed. Some groups meet on the same day every month (the last Wednesday of every month).
- Decide what types of book you want to read. Some groups specialise in crime or romance. Other groups like to read books they otherwise would not try. However, it is best to choose books that you know will be read. To read Tolstoy's War and Peace, however wonderful, within 4 weeks may not be sensible for a group consisting of mums with young children. You could as a group draw up a list of books that you want to read at the beginning of the year or take in turns choosing. Library staff can help you select books or you can check out our monthly reading group recommendations.
- Try to choose books that are available in paperback or at your local library to keep the costs down for the members of your reading group.
- Decide on the format you want each meeting to take. It can be anything from when you have your drinks and snacks (if they are being provided) to how formal the discussion should be. Will it just be a chat about the book or will you have preset questions that you go through!
- Ensure if there are any duties (sending out meeting details, organising the venue etc) to perform that these are shared out or if one person wants to do them that they are ok with that.
- Establish non-attendance rules. Who needs to be contacted? If someone is repeatedly absent that may suggest they are not that interested and this needs to be addressed for the sake of the group.
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Enjoy your reading group.
Please leave your suggestions on running a successful reading group...
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