Book Clubs

Some book clubs are creating facebook groups, or using various social media channels to discuss their books.

Other groups are meeting live via online video conferencing tools. All of the following tools are free:

• Zoom provides free accounts with unlimited one-on-one meetings, and up to 40 minutes of group discussion (longer group meetings may require paid accounts, though this has been temporarily waived)
• Google hangouts provides free video/chat/voice conferencing and does not have a time limit
• Jitsi is a free open source video conferencing tool

If you're using Zoom for the first time, here are some tips from Zoom about how to share your meeting information safely, especially if you're posting a link to the zoom meeting on social media.

Here are some great tips about how to host an online book club from Bustle Magazine: 10 Tips For Hosting A Digital Book Club

If you're missing the set of questions in our regular book club kits, these are some great discussion suggestions: 40 Great Book Club Discussion Questions For Any Book (from Book Riot)

eBooks and eAudiobooks on Overdrive/Libby:

Simultaneous use eBooks & eAudiobooks on Overdrive/Libby:

• No Waitlist Classics (unlimited simultaneous use classic eBooks)
• No Waitlist Audiobooks (try an audiobook for your next book club meeting!)
• Books to Read with a friend (eBooks with multiple copies available and few holds - good for mini book clubs)
• NL Reads: We will be offering unlimited no waitlist access to one local title each month from November to February (see link or list below for titles)
• Monthly no waitlist features: We also often feature special titles for unlimited simultaneous use - check the "Digital Book Club Titles" for current titles

CELA (for accessible formats): If any members of your book club have print disabilities, they may qualify for our CELA (Centre for Equitable Library Access) services.