Running a Book Club:

So you've got a club of friends who are eager to start a reading club together. Now you're faced with the basic question that all clubs have to deal with when they first start out: What next?! The most important thing when you're starting out is to be organized. You need to set down some simple rules that will keep your club running efficiently.

The first thing you should decide is when to meet. Most clubs find that once a month works out best. This gives you plenty of time to read the book you've chosen without putting pressure on your homework time or other activities. Reading is fun, but no one likes to feel forced to plow through a long book just to meet a deadline. Some clubs meet once every two weeks, but keep in mind that the books can't be too long if people only have fourteen days to read them. You also need to pick a set time to meet. It can be tough working around the busy schedules of everyone in the club, but you can usually find a couple of hours when everyone is free. Sunday evenings work well for a lot of people - just make sure you do your homework early! Also, have kids check with their parents' schedules; if they need to be picked up or dropped off somewhere, they'll need a ride. Once you have a time, stick with it! Members should let their families know that the Reading Club is an important activity for them; most parents will respect their kids' priorities and will help them fit their schedules around it.

OK, you have a set time to meet; now you need a place. This can be tricky for kids, since you can't exactly hop in the car and drive to a convenient place. If the parents of kids in the club are willing, you can take turns hosting the club at different people's houses. Dealing with parents will probably be a necessary, annoying part of running a Book Club; most adults will be accommodating as long as you're polite. If there's a place in the neighborhood where everyone can meet, that'll work too. Just be careful of restaurants, since managers don't always like a bunch of kids sitting around for a long time without buying anything. Snacks are almost as important as books for any good Reading Club, so you should make sure everyone shares the responsibility of bringing something to eat, like chips and salsa, cookies, or brownies. Also, instead of only having one person supply food, have two or three; that way the club doesn't rely on just one person each time and there will be a variety of food.

Another aspect of reading club you'll want to consider in advance is the format your meetings will take. It's helpful to have one person lead the discussion, so some clubs have the person who proposed the book make some questions and get the conversation started. You can also have each member come up with a couple questions of their own and go around the club. Don't be afraid of using outside help! Find a Reading Club Guide for your book online and use those questions to start the discussion. Another possibility (especially for clubs just starting out) is to ask someone like an English teacher or librarian to lead the discussion until the club gets the hang of it. Sometimes it can be tough to spark a good debate, so it never hurts to have a lot of questions and tricks up your sleeve!

Once your discussion is rolling, you need to keep it on track. Remind members to ground their comments in the text; if they have to point out specific examples from the book, they probably won't ramble too much. You might have a couple of people in the club who add a lot to the conversation but also have a tendency to get off topic a little. The most important part of a Reading Club is the book, so try hard to keep the discussion focused on what you're reading and not how hot Sally looked today or Chris's new sneakers. If a Reading Club turns into a Gossip Club, it won't last long, but if it sticks to books, it'll be a big success.