What is a book group?

A group of people that get together to talk about books, share their thoughts and have fun. Book groups can be highly structured and analytical, or casual and chatty - it all depends on the members.

Bournemouth Libraries and book groups

Various Bournemouth libraries hold reading groups for adults (BookTalk groups), teens and children ('Chatterbooks' groups), as well as poetry groups for adults. All these groups are free, friendly and informal.

Where and when?

Click on the appropriate link to find out where your nearest library-based group is and when it meets.

Adults

Teens

Children

Poetry

How do I join?

Contact your nearest library to find out about vacancies and the date of the next meeting. Library's phone and email contacts and locations.

Alternatively fill in our Reading Groups Form and submit it online (will open a new window). As a result, one of our library staff will then get in touch with you.

But my nearest one is full...

There's not one near me...

Talk to your nearest library to see what plans they have for their book group in the future, or about setting up a new one. Library contacts.

Setting up a book group

Click on the links below to find out how to set up your own book group and for general book group resources.

BBC Big Read

BBC Radio 4 Book Club

BookGroup.info

Penguin Readers' Group

Random House Readers' Group

Already involved with a book group?

Bournemouth Libraries are compiling a database of book groups in the Bournemouth area. To add your book group to the database please fill in a Book Group Database Form (will open as a Word doc in a new window for you to print out) or collect a form from any library. Return completed forms to any library. Library contacts.

Online Book Clubs

Daily Mail Book Club

Guardian Unlimited Book Club

Open2.net

Telegraph Family Book Club 

Times Online Books Group 

On other web pages there are links to useful websites for Book Reviews, Ideas for Books to Read, Literature (Awards, Events, Author/Publisher Sites) and Reading (adults, children and e-books).