Reading was once viewed as a beloved but mostly solitary activity, with the main attempt to unite book lovers being the tired book club. Yet the problem with the typical book club format is that even avid readers hate assigned reading because everyone’s tastes and pacing to read is different. A fresh reimagining of what a book club can and should be has emerged, fostering community and creating a space welcoming to introverts called a Silent Book Club. In a continued effort to provide patrons with enriching programming, the Drs. Sid E. & Nell K. Williams Library recently launched the Silent Book Club-Life U Williams Library Chapter. Librarians Chani Butler and Megan Bartkowiak are the champions of this special project.
“Megan and I wanted to create an ongoing event here at the library that would foster community, bring people to the library and, most importantly, be something introvert-friendly. So many activities at Life U (and in life) center around extroverts, around outgoing individuals and action-oriented circumstances,” Butler said.
What exactly is a Silent Book Club? According to the official main Silent Book Club site, it is defined as a gathering time for book lovers to usually read in companionable silence with others for about an hour. Afterwards, attendees can discuss what they are reading or just chat. Currently, there are over 1,400 chapters in 54 countries, all volunteer led. It’s a very accessible type of book club, as visitors can enjoy any type of reading material, be it physical novels or e-books, graphic novels or even audiobooks.
The club holds its next sessions February 6 and 8, 2025, and hopes to hold more sessions periodically based on interest. Keep an eye out for library postings and social media alerts for updates.
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