What creative themes can you employ for your next library book club?

I get stuck sometimes, always choosing something I know I’ll like, instead of venturing out into other genres. When I was teaching 6th grade, a student brought a book to ME and said, “I know this isn’t your usual kind of book, but it’s really good and you should read it.” I listened! His sci fi title recommendation was good, and I ended up reading more of the series. (Michael Vey series, by Richard Paul Evans)

I have diversified as a writer. My first books were children's stories with a twist. The idea was to also make them fun for adults to read to their children so they are littered with puns. I then tried my hand at young adult books before an idea hit me for the name of a detective. Drawing on life's experiences has enabled me to write some enjoyable stories (not my words). A good place to start with a library club, your own writing journey.

A popular event in many public libraries decades ago was the scheduling of travel films or travelogues for armchair travelers. Book discussion groups that focus on various venues, especially if there are also jumps across the historical landscape, can be very popular for readers. Librarians that schedule book clubs that discuss geographically diverse topics should attract patrons. In some cases, there may be holidays, celebrations, or other notable days on the calendar that can be used while creating schedules. The librarian or individual facilitating the conversation should do a little "homework" before the program, in case patrons have questions about the location. Perhaps a few non-fiction books from the travel section could be pulled.

In the perfect world, your library will have a chance to host an author who is alive, and who looks forward to sharing the reasons they wrote their work, the environment in which it came together, and how they look back it this work with the benefit of time. Another great way to promote a book club topic (and perhaps get both public and academic library participants together) is to schedule an author spotlight facilitated by a local teacher or professor who may also encourage (or require!) their students to attend. For example, if the book recalls about events during the Vietnam War, most students in attendance will have no first-person memories. However, some in the audience may be able to share memories in an intergenerational dialog.

The 'time travel' approach offers a great opportunity to attract the interest of both literary and history buffs. Historical novels and fictional accounts from different periods also promote opportunities for intergenerational dialog. Anyone who is a Gen Xer or older can notice how much of America television today goes back to shows that existed long ago. "Name that Tune" and "Password" were game shows on different networks decades ago. While the studios are different, the framework remains the same. Similarly, novels written in the past encourage conversations about the world in which the authors wrote. Novels written about the past allow participants to discuss how well the authors treated the time period under consideration.

In today's multimedia world, many absorb content from visuals, images, and sounds, not just words printed upon paper. Adaptations allow participants to engage in robust conversations about how well the multimedia presentation of a movie and television program corresponds to the way the authors treated the original written work. Whether it's an adaptation based on a fictional or non-fictional narrative, part of the conversation should include an assessment of the "literary license" taken by transitioning words into sounds and images. This allows participants to critique what appears on the screen, as well as what may have been (purposefully or not) left on the cutting room floor.

Authors have a purpose when they place words on paper. Many writers address social issues and how humans have endured, struggled, succeeded, and grown from their experiences. Introducing these social issues is a way to spark conversation. Librarians or presenters who address certain social issues should also be prepared for attendees that may want to engage in discussion that challenges these assertions. Those presenting these programs should take some time before the program to review the range of opinions that may be introduced by participants. It's important to maintain decorum during these discussions, and to make sure that disagreements about ideas and interpretations never devolve into aspersions or character attacks.

Be sure to encourage attendees at book discussion groups or book clubs to make suggestions for future programs. Are there authors, areas of literary interest, or other topics that should be considered? Are there topics and subjects that attract great interest for programs that are not adequately covered in the library's fiction, non-fiction, and juvenile collections?