Library Book Clubs: How to Join One (or Start Your Own)

By the Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team · Updated September 29, 2026

How library book clubs work

A library book club is about the lowest-commitment way there is to read more and meet people. They're typically free, open to the public, and led by a librarian or volunteer facilitator, meeting about once a month for an hour to discuss one book. As the American Library Association's reader site puts it, "libraries often provide meeting space for book clubs and many administer their own book discussion groups" — and if you want to join one, "check with your library" (ilovelibraries.org).

The variety is bigger than most people expect. Deschutes Public Library in Oregon runs eight free book clubs — including an online fiction club, a romance club and a nonfiction club — most meeting monthly for about an hour (deschuteslibrary.org). Saratoga Springs Public Library in New York hosts nine or more, spanning true crime, romantasy, poetry, social-issues nonfiction and an LGBTQ+ club (sspl.org). Some are in person, some virtual, some genre-specific — and many simply ask you to register for free by phone or through the online calendar.

How to find and join a book club near you

Joining is usually as simple as showing up. To find one:

• Check your library's events or programs calendar online — book clubs are listed there with dates, times and the current title.
• Register if asked — some clubs want a quick free sign-up so they know how many to expect; others are drop-in.
• Look for a theme that fits you — mystery, nonfiction, classics, genre fiction, LGBTQ+, teen, or ESL/language-learner clubs are all common.
• Ask at the desk — librarians know every group that meets in the building, including community clubs that just use the room.

To locate the branches near you, use our search-by-city directory or browse public libraries by state, then check that library's calendar.

'Book club in a bag': the kit that makes starting easy

Here's the secret weapon most people don't know about. Many library systems lend a "book club in a bag" (or "book club kit") — a single bag containing multiple copies of one title plus ready-made discussion questions, so an outside book club can all read the same book for free without anyone buying it. A few real examples:

Counts and loan periods vary by system — Indianapolis lends 10 copies for six weeks (indypl.org), while Deschutes maintains more than 200 kits with 10–12 copies each (deschuteslibrary.org). If your library offers kits, one card can supply an entire month's reading for your group at no cost.

How to start your own book club

Whether you want to run a club at the library or in your living room, the setup is straightforward. Start by talking to a librarian: ask whether the branch offers free meeting space and whether it lends book club kits — those two things solve the hardest logistics for free. Then decide the basics:

• Group size: the ALA's guide to starting a book discussion group recommends 8 to 16 members — "enough for a discussion if several are absent, but not so many that discussions become unwieldy" (ALA).
• How often: ALA advises that "monthly works best for most clubs"; some meet every six weeks to give slower readers time.
• What to read: ALA suggests picking a genre or mix — "fiction (current, classic), poetry, drama, mystery, sci-fi, current events, history, or biography."
• How to discuss: use the discussion questions that come with a book club kit, or the reading guides many publishers post online.

Not a fan of assigned reading? Try a silent book club

If book "homework" isn't your thing, a growing format may suit you better: the silent book club. Members bring whatever they're already reading, read quietly together for around an hour, and then chat informally afterward — no assigned title, no pressure. The format began in a San Francisco bar in 2012 and has spread to libraries; by 2020, dozens of the club's worldwide chapters were hosted by libraries (American Libraries). Systems like the San Antonio Public Library now run their own. It's an easy, welcoming on-ramp for people who love reading but never finish the assigned book in time.

However you like to read, your library is the cheapest, friendliest place to do it with others — free space, free books, and a built-in community. Find your branch with our search-by-city directory and ask what clubs and kits they offer.

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