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Things to Consider When Forming Your Book Group

Membership/Logistics

• What size group? ( 8-12 is ideal, in my experience)
  
• Requirements for membership? Is your group a neighborhood group, a group of friends, coworkers, mothers with small children, or some other group? How will you determine who can or can't join the group? (For example, if your group is residents of your condominium, will you include just building members? Friends of building members?)
  
• How often will you meet? For how long?

Book Selection

• What are the criteria for selecting a book? Is it: in print, in paperback, available at the library?
  
• Will you limit by: genre, number of pages, recommendation of group member (some groups only read books at least one member has read before and can 'vouch' for.)
  
• Will you vote for books, try to reach consensus or take turns? How will you evaluate this decision process and tweak it if necessary?

Leading the Discussion

• Who will lead the discussion?
  
• Who will provide background information on the author and the book?
  
• Who will host the group (and who will provide treats)?
  
• Will you take turns at these roles?
  
• How will you guide the discussion? Will each member bring 2 or 3 questions or specific passages to discuss, or will one person we responsible for discussion topics/questions?

"Things to Consider When Forming Your Bookgroup" was created by Librarian Liz Amundson, April 2004