Faculty Book Discussion Club

[Sue Fitzgerald]

I know many of us have read about the advantages of implementing a faculty book club but I just wanted to share my success as the year concludes with our last book discussion.  I took on a new library position and realized that I needed to cultivate relationships and what better way than to start a book club.  The faculty was eager to begin and we picked 7 books in varied genres to read and discuss.   The students were intrigued about our club and featured an article in the school newspaper.  It was an easy program to implement with countless benefits.  I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to this school year.

[Kelly Berry]

I love this idea and have decided to do this next year. Could you please pass on any suggestions on how best to make it work? Do you have a list of titles you read?
Thank you, Kelly

[Sue Fitzgerald]

Everyone was encouraged to make book suggestions while taking different genres into consideration. We divided the catagories into fiction, nonfiction, short stories and poetry and randomly drew titles. Those who made the suggestion lead the discussion group on that book (this gave ownership to the group rather than having me lead all the discussions). We met after school on 5 occassions (I usually provided a light snack), we had one brown bag lunch meeting and the final meeting I had lunch delivered from a local sandwich shop. Everyone was invited, I had the entire reading list posted for the year on our webiste, I included information on our meetings in every monthly newsletter and I tried to blog after every discussion group. The faculty was eager to read and meet and I was just the facilitator. Sometimes we would all read a book not on the list (such as The Help) and we would have impromptu conversations. Many times we would greet each other in the workroom with, "What are you reading now?" Many bystanders took interest in our conversations and we recruited around the coffee machine. I developed lasting relationships with staff members thus enhancing a young library program. Sometimes it's the little things we do that makes the most difference in our libraries.

[Kathleen Vetter]

Great ideas for your book club! I, too, took on a new library position this year, but I never got around to the book club. After reading your post, I wish I had!

I did want to share a idea for a rather unique book club that was implemented this year at the high school where I used to work. It was the "Busy Person's Book Club." At the first meeting, each member (7 in all) brought with them a book that was interesting to him/her (fiction, non-fiction, etc.) and a journal to accompany the book. Instead of meeting as a group, the books got passed along among the members at regular intervals (2 wks I think)- with the journals. After reading a book, each member would write down his/her thoughts, opinions, comments, questions, etc. in the journal. The journals stayed with the books. At the end of the 14-week session, they all planned to get together for an evening of wine and lively discussion. I think I might try this in the fall!

[Sue Fitzgerald]

What a wonderful idea. I love the lively evening discussion idea.

[cara delia]

This sounds like an awesome idea! I think as teachers and educators we forget how important it is to work together and collaborate. What better way to open up a line of communtication. If you can't relate to someone on a personal level its almost impossible (for me) to relate on an acedemic one. Thanks for the great idea! Have you tried this at all with a group of students? Creating a book club for the kids after school?