In May, 2016, Wolfner Talking Book and Braille Library began offering book clubs by conference call to its patrons statewide. A great deal of thought and planning went into the process of creating a workable program that consists of three different monthly book clubs. Learn about the challenges Wolfner Library staff faced to create this successful program, ranging from the methods for conducting the book clubs to determining criteria for book selection, and how the process could be applied to create programming and bridge a gap in service for your library’s homebound patrons.

1. Distance
Programming
for Adults:
Wolfner Library’s Experiment in Book
Clubs by Conference Call
Amy Nickless & Meghan McCormack
10/6/2017

2. Previous Programming
for Adults

3. Adult Winter Reading Program
• Began in 2006
• Originally ran by one reader
advisor
• Later expanded to an being
ran by a committee

4. Adult Winter Reading Program
• Runs January-March
• Patrons vote on the theme
• 2018 theme: Read-A-Likes
• Customized recommended
reading list
• Prizes to top three readers
• Drawing for participation prizes

5. Creating an Accessible
Book Club

6. Methods for Hosting
• Skype
• Google Hangouts
• Go To Meeting
• Conference Call

7. How the Themes were Selected
• Patrons had different interests in multiple topics
– Some prefer fiction, others nonfiction
– Some patrons do no want content with strong language,
violence, or sexual content
• To have the broadest appeal, three clubs were formed:
– Novel Reads (general fiction)
– Big Ideas (general nonfiction)
– Good Books (mild reads)

8. Criteria for Fiction & Nonfiction Titles
• Books be a general, literary
category
– Try to avoid genre fiction
• Books shall be well reviewed
and have ample discussion
material
– Books should not be a one-
sided discussion of an issue
• There should be ready
sources of discussion
questions available for the
moderator’s consideration

9. Criteria for Mild Read Titles
• Books shall have little-to-no
sex, violence, or strong
language
• Books may be fiction or
nonfiction
• Books shall be well reviewed
and have ample material for
discussion
– Books should not be a one-
sided discussion of an issue
• There should be ready
sources of book club
discussion questions for the
moderator’s consideration
– When none are available, the
moderator will write questions
• Content not limited to
Christian/Inspirational books

10. Defining Mild Reads Content
• Content is defined as:
– Sex: No sexually-explicit content or
descriptions of sex. Sex may be
mentioned or inferred
– Violence: Scenes involving
aggressive conflict
– Strong Language: Explicit and/or
frequent use of profanity
• Guidelines borrowed from ESRB
Video Game Ratings

11. Selecting Books for Discussion
– Book Movement
(www.bookmovement.com)
Places for looking for
potential titles:

12. Selecting Books for Discussion
– Book Club Central
(www.bookclubcentral.org)
Places for looking for
potential titles:

13. Selecting Books for Discussion
– Goodreads
(www.goodreads.com)
Places for looking for
potential titles:

14. Selecting Books for Discussion
– Book Club Girl
(www.bookclubgi
rl.com)
Places for looking for
potential titles:

15. Selecting Books for Discussion
– Book Reporter
(www.bookreporter.com)
Places for looking for
potential titles:

16. Selecting Books for Discussion
– LitLovers
(http://www.litlovers.com/)
Places for looking for
potential titles:

17. Selecting Books for Discussion
– Reading Group
Guides
(www.readinggroupgu
ides.com)
Places for looking for
potential titles:

18. Selecting Books for Discussion
– NoveList
– Bookmarks Magazine
– Publisher’s Weekly
– Booklist
– Mentions in newsletters
– Patron Recommendations
– Patron Interests
– Availability in accessible
format
Places for looking for potential titles:

19. Announcing Book Club Selections
• Announced in quarterly
newsletter
• Announce schedule
monthly on social media
• Upcoming titles posted on
website

20. Debuting the Book Clubs
• First occurred in
May, 2016
• Conducted via conference
call
• Each club meets
once a month
• Patrons register
by contacting
Wolfner Library

21. Running an Accessible
Book Club

22. Discussion Questions
• Places to locate questions:
– Back of the paperback edition
– Publisher’s website
– Book Movement
(www.bookmovement.com)
– LitLovers (www.litlovers.com)
– Reading Group Guides
(www.readinggroupguides.com/)

23. Discussion Questions
• Tips for Writing Questions Yourself
– Do not write overly academic questions
– Discuss broad themes within the books
– Look for thought-provoking passages to
base questions on
– Ask about character motivations
– Ask about changes within characters
over the book’s course
– Compare to other books read by the club
– Draw connections from the book to current events

24. Hosting Duties
• Prior to the meeting, the
moderator shall:
– Reserve the conference call
line
– Book a conference room
– Call into the conference line
10 minutes early
• During the meeting, the
moderator shall:
– Bring discussion questions
– Ensure all participants are
respectful to each other
– Ensure all rules of etiquette
are followed

25. Book Club Etiquette
• All opinions are valuable
• Everyone deserves to be
heard
• Do not speak over others
• Listen to your moderator
• Please be on time to the
meeting
• Be respectful to the work
you are discussing
• Try to stay on topic
• Try to have fun; this is a
social and educational
outlet
• Please do not make us
write more rules!

26. How a Typical Meeting is Run
• Open with an introduction to the book
– Include information about the author
– Include historical context, if applicable
• Discussing the book
– Ask for overall thoughts about the book
– Have questions ready, but be prepared
to deviate based on conversation

27. How a Typical Meeting is Run
• Wrap-Up
– Ask for final thoughts
– Reminders about future dates and titles
– Have a list of read-a-likes ready
• Follow-up after meeting as needed

28. Lessons Learned from
Running an Accessible
Book Club

29. Reflections and Outcomes
• Patrons consistently report:
– They are very happy to have
their reading horizons
expanded
– They are excited to speak
with other patrons
• Some patrons now
regularly talk outside of
book club meetings

30. 2016 Book Club Survey
• Conducted in November, 2016
– Provides for 6 months of data
• The survey was set-up on Survey Gizmo
• Method for data collection:
– Phone calls
– E-mail

31. 2016 Book Club Survey
• Question: What do you like most about the club(s) you
have attended?
– “Enjoys the discussions and hearing the different
perspectives.”
– “When discussing books, one learns a lot from the other
people's ideas in addition to the book.”
– “Likes everyone's input and excitement. Makes me look at the
books in a different way.”

32. 2016 Book Club Survey
• Are there books or genres you would like
to suggest we read as a group?
– “Books with cultural learning”
– “Books with character depth”
– “Books about people overcoming challenges”
– “Informative fiction and nonfiction”
– Most Requested Genres: Biographies, Autobiographies,
True Crime, Classics, Mysteries
– Selected requested titles:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Aviators by Winston Groom,
and A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Aldrich Streeter

33. 2016 Book Club Survey
• Do you have any suggestions for how we could
make our clubs even better?
– “Sometimes an hour was not long enough!”
– Add about five minutes per call for other pertinent
topics, like assistive technologies
– Encourage people to not call while riding in cars or in a
noisy room

34. 2016 Book Club Survey
• Are there any other comments about the clubs you
would like to make at this time?
– “Started with just the mild reads club and expanded to all
three clubs!”
– “Thinks clubs are a wonderful way for people to get
together and share ideas.”
– “Very happy that February titles overlap AWRP and Book
Club!”
– “Likes how the moderators provide [historical] context.”

35. Key Outcome

36. Applying Lessons
Learned within
Wolfner Library

37. Applications to Book Club
• Book Clubs are now scheduled for 1.5 hours
• Patron recommendations were utilized for 2017
– 6 title recommendations
– 9 books chosen from suggested genres
• Selected some 2017 titles based on popular themes and
authors from 2016
• Incorporated time at the end for discussion of accessible
technologies and other common issues

38. BARD Workshop
• Occurred on September 19th, 2017
• Workshop by conference call
• Conducted by Adult Services Librarian and BARD
Specialist Reader Advisor
• Answered questions about BARD, BARD Mobile, and
BARD Express
• 7 patrons called in with questions

39. Future Ideas
• Book Club Kits for care facilities
• Author Talks by Conference Call
• Monthly “Ask Amy” Reference Hour
• Writing Contest
– Either poetry or flash fiction
– Poetry contest is offered for teens
– Multiple patrons have requested an adult version

40. Applying Lessons
Learned to Other
Libraries

41. Know Your Patrons
• All libraries have homebound people within their
library district
– May be due to age or disability
– For academic libraries, also could be distance students

42. Example Programs for Libraries
• Offer programming via conference
call or webinar
– Author Talks
– Book Clubs
– Workshops
• Take programming to where
individuals live
– Book clubs in nursing homes
– Storytimes at preschools
– Workshops at regional campuses
Image credit: Missouri School for the Blind

43. Example Programs for Libraries
• Create programming kits to lend to care facilities
– Kits can be centered on books, movies, or experiences
• Collaborate with local caregivers or other organizations to
create programming unique to needs in your area
– Host a game night with a local game shop
– Invite medical professionals to host an informational
session on a common ailment
– Partner with DAR for a genealogy workshop
– Work with a local bookstore to host an author event

44. Collaborate with Wolfner Library
• Bookworms Book Club
– Offered by the St. Louis Society of
the Blind and Visually impaired
– Wolfner Library provides titles to be
discussed
• One Reads Programs
– University City Public Library’s
Big Book Challenge
– Wolfner Library makes extra
cartridges of title being read

45. Collaborate with Wolfner Library
• Independent Living Resource Center
– Partnered with Jefferson City location to
do an accessible cooking class
• Missouri School for the Blind
– Annual Summer Reading Kickoff
– Provide accessible activities
and games
– Sign up students for summer reading

46. Final Notes

47. Connect with Wolfner Library
https://www.facebook.com/wolfnerlibrary
E-mail Wolfner@sos.mo.gov

48. Connect with Wolfner Library
Address:
600 West Main Street
P.O. Box 387
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
Toll Free: (800) 392-2614
Phone: (573) 751-8720
Fax: (573) 751-3612

49. Presenter Contact Information
Meghan McCormack, Reader Advisor 
• meghan.mccormack@sos.mo.gov
Amy Nickless, Adult Services Librarian
amy.nickless@sos.mo.gov

50. Questions?