Book clubs

Clubs must hold a Fraser Coast Libraries Book Club membership to enable borrowing of book club sets. 

Every Fraser Coast Libraries book club set contains: 

• Books! Generally, this will be 10 copies of the same title.

• Book Club meeting question prompts.

• A damage record sheet and borrower sheet for tracking the condition and loaning of each book.

New book club set titles are added to the Fraser Coast Libraries catalogue throughout the year. Suggestions for new titles are always welcomed from book clubs. 

The current list of book club sets in the library’s collection can be viewed via our online catalogue. 

Book club sets can also be ordered through Fraser Coast Libraries as an interlibrary loan from the State Library of Queensland. Many other Queensland libraries use this service, so we are unable to guarantee a delivery date, nor extend the due by date for these titles. 

So, you want to start a Book Club? Here are some simple guidelines to get you and your members set up and reading in no time.  

• Get a group of people together. Invite friends and neighbours or advertise at your workplace. A good mix of people promotes a lively discussion. Clubs can accommodate a maximum of 10 members due to the number of books in a set.
• Choose a name for your book club and nominate a coordinator to represent your group.
• Plan a meeting schedule. A regular monthly time, such as the first Wednesday of the month, is easy to remember. Book club meetings can be anywhere: in parks, coffee shops or at members' homes. 

Fraser Coast Libraries may be able to provide a meeting space, provide names of interested people looking to join a group, or assist in setting up a new club. 

Coordinator’s Role 

• Act as a liaison with library staff.
• Create a Fraser Coast Libraries book club membership online or in person at any of our branches using the format of Surname: Book Club and First Name: name of the book club.
• Determine venue, date, time and duration of meetings: Where, when and for how long will the book club meet?
• Communication and confidentiality: Consider how you will communicate with members. Check if all members are happy to share email addresses or if you will need to communicate using other methods such as through SMS messaging or using BCC on emails.
• Reserve book club sets from our list of book club sets on the library catalogue for each meeting. Sets should be reserved at least one week prior to the meeting to allow for delivery to the required library. Please note: sets on loan or reserved to other clubs will take longer to obtain. Have a backup set or two in mind when reserving.
• Borrow and collect the books from the library using the book club’s membership card.
• Ensure each member checks the condition of their book against the damage sheet and initials on the provided borrower sheet when the book is borrowed and returned in the same condition.
• Follow up on any damaged items as discovered by coordinator or library staff and ensure replacement fees paid by appropriate member.
• Lead conversations, keep discussions on topic and promote equitable idea sharing. A healthy conversation with different opinions should be encouraged.
• Return books to the libraries by the due date or earlier. Please note: all books must be in a set when returned, part sets cannot be accepted.

Contact us to add your name to the book club waiting list. We will contact you when: 

• a vacancy exists in a current book club; or 
• the list grows large enough to start another club.  

Members Role 

•  Be a Fraser Coast Libraries member. 
• Offer a commitment to monthly meetings. 
• Have a love of reading and a willingness to participate in thoughtful group discussion. 
• Demonstrate an acceptance of freedom of speech and free thought. 
• Take responsibility and care of borrowed books.
• Make suggestions for titles to be read and purchased if inclined. 
• Return books on time to the coordinator for delivery to the library by the due date. Please note: the library will not accept the return of individual books.