Reading groups
We provide reading groups with book collections so you’ll never be left unprepared.
Run a reading group
Deciding on the type of books you're going to read is probably the most important part of setting up a reading group.
We offer a reading group subscription service which gives your group:
- exclusive access to the titles in our Reading Group collection.
- free reservations on Hertfordshire library stock
- at least 12 copies of the same book for your group to borrow at once
- an extended loan period – 6 weeks.
- a quarterly newsletter
Print or share our quick checklist of titles
Subscription - £33 per year, per Reading Group
Email us at libraries.information@hertfordshire.gov.uk for more information about reading groups
8 steps to a great reading group
- Get group members
Phone a friend, ask a colleague, put up posters. Spread the word! Between 5 and 10 members is ideal.
- Choose a group name
Will you be the “Bushey Bookworms"? "Baldock Bibliophiles"? Or something more original?
- Time
Decide when you'll meet and for how long. Once a month is a good idea.
- Venue
Agree where you'll meet. Your local library might have a meeting room you can book.
- Choose a group leader
It helps to have someone to keep things running smoothly. That might be one person, or you can take turns.
- Set ground rules
How strict are you going to be? Will you monitor attendance? Who will provide refreshments? What happens if people consistently don’t read the books?
- Discussion questions
To get conversation flowing, it might be an idea to have some questions ready. For example:
Could you relate to the characters?
Did you guess the ending?
Is it the type of book you'd normally choose?
- Themes and ideas
Keep things fresh by introducing different activities to some of the meetings. If there's a film of the book, you could have a movie night to compare them. Or you could have a quiz based on the book.