Reading groups in North Lincolnshire

• The Read and Rabbit Book Club meets at 1.30pm on the first Tuesday of the month, at Scunthorpe Central. If you would like further details, please contact library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
• The Clare House Book Club meets monthly on Thursdays, 10.30am to 12 noon in Scunthorpe. If you would like further details, please contact library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
• The Normanby Book Club meets monthly on Wednesdays, 1.15pm in the Stableyard Cafe at Normanby Hall Country Park. For more details please contact library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
• The Isle of Axholme U3A Reading Group.  For more details check out their web pages or contact library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
• The Brigg Borrowers group is based in Brigg. If you would like further details, please contact library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk.
• The Epworth Book Club is based in Epworth.  If you would like further details please contact library.enquiries@northlincs.gov.uk

We can also check with some of our other groups to ask about vacancies.

We are always looking for new groups to support. Our local community of readers, all of whom are enthusiastic about talking with others about books, are a great asset to North Lincolnshire.  The library service offer the following:

• The Readers Collection. A collection of multiple copy book sets especially for reading groups to use.
• Free extended loan of books. All local book groups are entitled to a special library card to use for their group’s loans, which offers them an extended loan period and attracts no fees or fines.
• Delivery of books to any North Lincolnshire library. We can arrange to send sets of books to any static library in North Lincolnshire, for you to collect for your group.
• Regular communication with librarians to arrange loans. You can request books for your group in person by handing a completed request form into your local library, or via email.  Please note that we require a minimum notice period of 28 days for each request to ensure delivery.

If you are interested in registering to use our service to reading groups, please contact us.  You can also submit a completed new reading group application form [PDF, 253Kb] to any of our libraries or as a scanned document via email.

• The collection currently comprises of more than 370 titles.
• Most of our sets are made up of 10 copies or more.
• We can also provide audio, large print and e book versions of some of the titles in the collection.
• The collection is mainly fiction in a variety of genres, including classic novels, and some non-fiction.
• Our readers group titles annotated list [PDF, 617Kb] will provide more details.

• Ask people you already know. Friends, neighbours, work colleagues and acquaintances might be keen to join a reading group.
• You could advertise the fact that you would like to start a group: in the local press; via social media; on your college, workplace or community centre notice board. If you decide to meet new people in this way, be sure to do so in a neutral, public place.
• Decide how many members you would like in the group. Between five and ten is a good number. More, and discussions can become more difficult to manage if all members attend regularly. Fewer, and if a couple of people don’t turn up, you aren’t left with much of a group.
• Once your group has taken off, decide whether you would like to promote it and ‘recruit’ new members. If you meet in each other’s homes, you might prefer not to do so. However, if you meet in a public place and want to maintain numbers when members leave, we can promote your group through our own channels. Please contact us if you would like us to do this.

• Public places such as cafes and local pubs might be relaxing for members, and can be an ice-breaker environment. You may need to check with the owner or publican, but they probably won’t mind if you are buying food or drink. Some pubs may have a separate space or room which you can use during less busy periods.
• Some public buildings such as colleges and community centres may have rooms available. Remember that you might have to pay or commit to a regular booking. If you have enough regular members, they might be prepared to pay a ‘sub’ each.
• If you are happy to, you might want to meet in members’ houses. Some groups take it in turn to do so, but you would need consensus among members that they are happy with this.

• It can be difficult to find a regular time and day to suit all members, so consultation and compromise is important.
• Depending on other commitments, you might want to meet once a month: perhaps more, or less. Agree this among your members, as it is likely everyone will have differing commitments.

• Some people might only want to read books that are within their comfort zone, and might be reluctant to try something new. The group is meant to be enjoyable, but it is also a chance to try something new, which you might otherwise not have chosen. Differences of opinion can make for good discussion. You could suggest that a different group member choose the book each time.
• You might also gain inspiration from websites, social media, bookshops, radio and TV, newspaper reviews and book prize shortlists. Don’t forget classics, as a lot of people haven’t read them, and you could also include narrative non-fiction such as a biography.
• Make sure that half of your group haven’t already read the next book.

• It is a good idea to designate roles to regular members, so long as they can make the commitment. For example, someone could be chair and take on an organisational role, if they would enjoy this. Some groups alternate this facilitator role between members.
• You might want a set duration for the meeting; or you might want to be more flexible, depending on your venue and your members.
• Discussion about the book might just start up naturally. In case it doesn’t, it is useful for someone (the chair, for example) to have some discussion notes on the book. Websites often have these for individual texts, and some publishers print them in the back of the book for groups to use.

• Planning ahead; getting the books to everyone in advance of discussion, especially if someone misses a meeting.
• Managing cancelled or postponed meetings; are all of your contact details up to date, and who will contact other members.
• Refreshments; this depends on the venue and what facilities are available.
• Trips out; there are often book-related events or theatre productions taking place nearby.