On the second floor of the BWG Library, there is an aisle of book sets, just waiting to be borrowed and devoured by local book clubs or student classes.
Information Services Librarian Elizabeth Campbell has been helping coordinate local book clubs acquire engaging, trending reads for the past few years.
Currently, the library is servicing around five book clubs, but Campbell says they have the capacity to assist more, ensuring all members have their own copy of a book.
Campbell says choosing which sets to include in the library's collection is a bit of a "guessing game" with a mix of popular and eclectic reads, and ones that will generate "good discussion." Library staff have their own book club and will often add some of their own recommendations to the shelf as well.
"It is super easy to endorse any of the books we've talked about," said Campbell.
The Midnight Library, Five Little Indians, The Red Pencil, and Anxious People are just some of the many sets currently available to borrow.
The BWG Library has around 25 book club sets available for local book clubs to borrow, with more continuously being added to the collection.
"It's growing all the time," said Campbell.
To ensure enough copies are available for each book club member, it is recommended book clubs notify Campbell four to six weeks in advance of borrowing. If additional copies are required, the library is able to use the Inter-Library Loan system, where they can borrow books from libraries across Ontario.
"To me, it is the essence of librarianship that we can share collections through the province," said Campbell.
For those not part of a book club but who want to be, there is an Open Book Club that residents are welcome to join. Throughout the pandemic, the club has been meeting online to host their book discussions.
This months' pick, in honour of Black History Month, is Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid. The book has been nominated for numerous awards and placed on many celebrity book club lists.
It’s a story about race and privilege. Set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.
"It's so great for discussion. We had a three-hour discussion about that one," said Campbell.
Copies of the book are available at the BWG Library, and residents can sign up here to join the book club discussion on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Book clubs interested in borrowing a set of books can contact Campbell directly via email at [email protected]
To see a full list of sets available to borrow, click here.
