Although book clubs have been around for a long time, they have become quite the vogue in recent years.

Book clubs, also referred to as reading groups, are an assembly of readers that participate in the regular discussion of books. Traditionally, a book club consists of several members who meet each month to talk about a specific work. However, the advent of web forums has made it possible for book clubs to exist online. While both traditional and online book clubs offer readers the opportunity to participate in spirited discussions, each type has its own set of advantages.

Traditional book clubs offer the benefit of having all members in the same room, which makes for a much more personal and intimate experience. Since most traditional book clubs are somewhat small in size, each member typically has more control over what books are selected to read.

Online book club advantages include the wide selection of clubs dedicated to a specialized interest or genre. They are also convenient, as many of them are available at any time of day.

There is yet another category of book club in which books are recommended on a regular basis by a "certain popular talk show host". This club is in a genre all its own consisting exclusively of recommendations as opposed to book discussions.

Whichever format of book club one prefers, the Scottsbluff Public Library is here to assist in making the most of the reading group experience. We try to maintain a selection of the most current books discussed in reading groups as well as titles recommended on television. However, if we do not have the book your group is interested in, interlibrary loan and purchase suggestions are always a consideration.

A brand new option now available at the library comes in the form of Book Club Packets. These packets consist of a Scottsbluff Public Library bag containing 8 copies of a specific title, a folder with author and book information, book club resource information, a readers’ guide and a book checkout sheet for the reading group leader to keep track of who checks out each copy. Each packet will check out to one person (possibly the reading group leader) for a six-week period. Titles available at this time include:

The Book Club Packet project was started with help from the Elizabeth Herstein Memorial fund. Elizabeth, who passed away in late November 2006, was a beloved member of the Literary Reading Group, which meets monthly at the library. It is an honor to pass on Elizabeth’s love of reading and of reading groups in the form of these packets.

Come see us at the library to checkout a Book Club Packet for your reading group. Also, if your book club would wish to donate money for a new packet or has paperback copies of a previously discussed book that you would like to donate, please contact Jana or Jenni at the Scottsbluff Public Library, 630-6250.

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Scottsbluff Public Library :: 1809 Third Avenue :: Scottsbluff, NE 69361 :: 308-630-6250