The people were lured into your living room and fed cookies until they agreed to join your book club.How do you keep the enthusiasm high?It's worth a little effort to keep everyone on the same page, even though you're not drafting a constitution.
Step 1: The book selection rules should be set.
In a discussion book club, the group reads the same book every month.If you let anyone propose a book, the club can vote on the options.If the members like books and don't want to explore new genres, try this.One member can choose which books they want to read.It's a good way to look at a lot of works.ThePulitzer Prize, National Book Award, excellence within a genre, and qualities that lead to good discussion are some of the rewards that books have received.
Step 2: Decide on a location for the meeting.
rotate hosting duties is a common solution.If not everyone has the ability to host, you can find a meeting space in a church, library, or community center.Cafes are a fun option, but they need plenty of space and a policy toward noise.
Step 3: The atmosphere should be set.
socializing is more important than the discussion for many people.If everyone is on the same page, this isn't a problem.If your group tends to derail the discussion with unrelated conversation, divide the meetings into two parts and make it clear that you want a more serious discussion.Start with casual chats, then move on to focused discussion.If you really want good debate, ask members not to show up if they haven't read the book.It could go poorly among close friends.
Step 4: Get ready for the discussion.
Most people don't want to put in extra time between meetings because they attend book clubs in their spare time.If you want to improve the quality of discussion, you should appoint a person to lead the meeting.Read a few reviews and biographies of the author.Come up with some questions.Extra info can be printed out with the handouts.
Step 5: There are rules for new members.
If you want an intimate meeting for close friends, ask members to keep it that way.If you would like to meet new people, ask members to invite friends.You could advertise in your local community if you have a large meeting space.
Step 6: Come up with a list of people.
A book club gathers a collection of books for its members to borrow.The bigger your library is, the more interesting it is.For logistical reasons, you may want to start with a few people.
Step 7: Rules for book acquisition.
There are two ways in which this type of club can function.Each member contributes money to the meeting.The host spends the money to buy books for the club.
Step 8: Decide where to meet.
Unless you have a communal space to store the books, the book club only borrows or returns books once a month or two.There is a chance to trade recommendations.You don't have to transport the books if you have one person store the collection and host the meetings.A donation box could be put out to reimburse this host.
Step 9: The loan policy needs to be written down.
Each member of the club is allowed to borrow one book at a time.After a certain amount of time, each book is due back.A small fine for late books will be put into a communal fund.The original owner of the book will be given a larger fine for lost or damaged books.
Step 10: You can set a return schedule.
Most clubs won't want to keep their collection growing.After a certain period of time, return a book to its original owner or purchaser.
Step 11: A member is assigned to track the loans.
One person should be responsible for a document that lists every book in the collection, with the following information: Who currently has the book.When the book is back in the collection.The original owner was the purchaser.When the book is returned to the original owner.