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Reading With Feeling:�Using Library Collections and Reading Groups�to Foster Connection

  • Kaite Stover
  • Director of Readers’ Services
  • Kansas City Public Library
  • May 15, 2025

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Today’s Agenda

  • Libraries & Book Groups
  • Selecting a Good Book
  • Facilitating and Discussing
  • Beyond Book Groups

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Why Have Book Groups?

  • Bookperts
  • Natural/neutral gathering place for readers
  • Easy, cost-effective, quality program
  • Supports Library’s stated/unstated mission

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Start Up Costs

  • Take a survey (informal)
  • Check Library resources
  • Type of structure
  • Meeting format
  • Marketing

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Reading with Intent

  • Purpose
  • Intentions
  • Structure
  • Expectations

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Easy Reading and Hard Time

  • Time
  • Energy
  • Activity
  • Reading Interest/Level

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Why We’re Here: The Book

  • Who selects?
  • Format
  • Member preferences
  • Book requirements
  • Finding the right reading material

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Read, Talk, Listen

  • The Ideal Discussion
  • Attendees
  • Discussion Topics
  • Talking and Listening

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Facilitating with Flair

  • Have at least 5 discussion questions/topics
  • Books no one liked
  • How to interrupt politely & handling challenging readers

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Getting the Word Out: Marketing & Promotion

  • Small scale M&P
  • Flyers, Bookmarks
  • Social Media
    • Audience vs User
    • Device & Algorithms
    • Tone & Platform

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Discussion Group Change Ups

  • Pop-Up Book Group
  • Online Discussions
  • Short term Themed Group
  • Not just books

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Passive RA Tools

  • Displays
  • Lists
  • Bookmarks

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Small Group Prompts

  • Choose an Awareness month topic and create a compelling display title, book list description, and plan for promoting in the library and outside the library

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  • Plan a pop-up book group. Consider a community partner to help promote to potential attendees. Talk about potential venue, meeting time, reading selection, guest speaker and/or facilitator, conversation starters, anything else you can think of

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  • Combine the above. Plan a limited series of discussions. Choose a single topic or multiple topics. Talk about length of series, types of programming,

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Questions, Comments, Thanks

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Kaite Stover

kaitestover@kclibrary.org

Kansas City Public Library

816-701-3683

Kclibrary.org