Book Discussion Groups

A book discussion group is usally an organized group sponsored by a library, school, church, or bookstore, whose members meet to talk about books they have read. Most groups coordinate their reading so that everyone has read the same book, or a work by the same author, in advance of meeting. In some groups, a facilitator is selected, sometimes on a rotating basis, who begins the session with a brief talk about the author or the book before opening the floor to discussion.

• ALA Public Programs Office Book and Media Discussion Programs
  The ALA Public Programs Office has long been at the forefront of library discussion programs since 1982. A list of currently available programs is given here, and may include film and audio discussion series, family reading, discussion and storytelling series, theme-based book discussion series, a radio program/reading discussion program, and more.
• Book Discussion Groups
  A collection of information about how to start a book discussion group, suggested general questions, and links to blogs and what other libraries are doing.
• Giving Readers a Voice: Book Discussion Groups
  An article in Booklinks from the February/March 2002 issue about how one library approached building book discussion groups.