Do you love to read? Do you enjoy getting the most out of a book within the context of community?
Running a book club requires dedication, organization, and a passion for reading. By following these steps and adapting to the needs of your group, you can foster meaningful discussions and create a vibrant and enjoyable community of readers.
Read more to learn how to run a book club successfully.
Getting Started
Our advice for how to run a book club begins with some decisions you need to make at the start. Think about your purpose, and let that guide the rest of your choices. Figure out the goals of your book club. Are you focused on specific genres, classics, nonfiction, or a mix of literary works? Clarifying your club’s mission will help attract like-minded members.
With your book club’s purpose in mind, choose a catchy or meaningful name that reflects that identity. You need this name to promote your club, so it’s one of the first decisions you should make.
Next, decide when and how often your club will meet. Most book clubs meet monthly, but you can choose a schedule that suits your members’ availability.
Finally, determine whether you want your book club to meet in person or online (or both). Your venue depends on your own preferences and needs as well as those of your prospective book club members. For example, if you know from the start that you want to include your best friend on the other side of the country, that makes your decision easy.
Promoting Your Book Club
Now it’s time to let people know about your book club and recruit members. Start by inviting friends, family, and colleagues. Then, you can extend your invitations beyond the people you know.
Create an online presence for your book club. Consider setting up a website, a blog, or social media profiles and/or groups. Share information about meetings, book selections, and member testimonials to attract new members and keep everyone informed. Websites such as Meetup.com can help you reach a broader audience of book enthusiasts in your area.
In addition to your online efforts, you can partner with local libraries, bookstores, and community centers to promote your book club through their channels.
Choosing Books
Part of running a book club is choosing books to read or overseeing this process. Of course, there’s a variety of ways you can go about it. You can have members take turns choosing books, or you can have members nominate books and then hold a vote on the ideas. These methods promote diversity in book choices and ensure that everyone’s interests are considered.
Whatever book selection method you choose, keep your book club’s purpose in mind. Make your selection and nomination guidelines clear. For example, if your club is all about reading literary fiction, ensure that everyone’s on the same page about the selections that fit the bill.
Finding a Hosting Location
Initially, members might take turns hosting meetings in their homes. This creates an intimate atmosphere. However, once you open up membership to people you don’t know, it’s advisable to meet in public spaces such as libraries, cafes, or community centers.
Ensure that your chosen meeting locations are accessible to all members, including those with mobility challenges. You might also decide to meet in a variety of locations. Whatever you choose, make sure that members and prospective attendees know you’re meeting and when, so make those details clear and keep them up to date.
Facilitating Discussions
A major part of running a book club is facilitating discussions or delegating that responsibility. Here are a few tips:
- Set ground rules. Establish ground rules for your book club, such as respecting others’ opinions, being punctual, and avoiding spoilers.
- Prepare discussion questions. Ahead of each meeting, provide a list of discussion questions related to the book. These can cover the plot, characters, themes, and personal reactions.
- Encourage participation. Ensure that all members have a chance to speak if they want to. You can go around the room, asking each person to share their thoughts or encourage quieter members to contribute.
- Respect differing opinions. A variety of perspectives can lead to rich discussions. Encourage respectful debates and open-mindedness.
- Moderate the discussion. Keep the discussion on track, ensure that everyone has a chance to speak, and prevent people from dominating the conversation.
Handling a Growing Group
Hopefully, you have the problem of too many people because your group has grown! You’ll know it’s too large when it’s difficult to have meaningful discussions. Before you reach this point, it’s wise to discuss this possibility with your book club members so they know what to expect and have some input on the direction you take. Let’s explore a couple of options you have to handle a growing group.
Option 1: Limit Membership
To ensure a manageable size, limit the number of members in the book club. Create a waitlist to join it. Allow new members to join when others leave.
Option 2: Split Into Two Groups
Within this plan, you have further options. For example, both groups could meet at the same time but in different locations. Both groups could meet at different times but in the same location. Both groups might choose to read the same books or different ones. Whatever you decide to do, new locations, times, and book selections will open up more opportunities for members and prospective members. In other words, multiplication not only indicates growth, but it can encourage even more growth!
Other Considerations
Let’s explore a few other things to keep in mind when you’re running a book club.
Mentor Others
You’re the leader, but that doesn’t mean that you have to run the website and schedule or facilitate the discussions. Even if you choose to take on those responsibilities, there will be times when you simply can’t do them. So, it’s wise to identify book club members who are willing to take on these tasks and mentor them in those roles. This becomes increasingly important as the club grows.
Listen to Feedback
Regularly ask for feedback from members to improve the club’s experience and address any concerns. Make sure they have the option to submit feedback anonymously if that’s the only way they can be candid. You can ask for feedback during a club meeting, have a form on your website, or use an online survey tool.
Go Beyond Book Discussions
Consider occasionally incorporating other book-related activities, such as author interviews, book swaps, or literary-themed outings. Keep your purpose in mind, and—as a group—consider fresh ways to fulfill it.
