Libraries offer online book clubs for discussions without leaving home

3 weeks ago

11 6 minutes read

Libraries offer online book clubs for discussions without leaving home — 77781773007 well read book club debbie phillips cropped.jpg

Delaware libraries have books, pressure washers and pickleball kits.

You might be surprised at all the free stuff you can borrow now from a Delaware library. They have free museum and state park passes too.

You’d like to have an adult conversation and meet new people, but it’s freezing cold and you don’t like driving at night. Or, there’s no way you can get home from work, fix dinner for your family and get to an event in time.

In Delaware, if that event revolves around books, you can stay home and still participate in a variety of discussion groups and meet-the-author programs online, usually on Zoom.

Throughout the state, many libraries offer online access with their in-person events while some are exclusively online.

“People love sitting at home in their pajamas. It’s a nice option,” said Rebecca Lowe, coordinator for adult programs at the Lewes Public Library.

One of the next programs with the online option at the Lewes Library is Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 5 p.m., featuring author Meryl Gordon discussing her new biography “The Woman Who Knew Everyone: The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s Most Famous Hostess.”

If you attend in person, Gordon will sign your copy of the book, but if you can’t make it to the library, you can follow the conversation online on Zoom. Just register on the library’s website or at tinyurl.com/LPLAuthorEvents or call 302-645-2733 during library hours.

The meet-the-author events are held in partnership with Browseabout Books, which arranges the programs with authors and publicists.

“Browseabout Books has been wonderful, and publicists know we get good numbers at our programs,” Lowe said. “When we hold an event, a decent number of people buy the book.”

The library has hosted more than 300 meet-the-author events with the online option with more than 26,000 people attending in-person and online from multiple states and countries, Lowe said.

“We had an author who wrote a book about owls, and we had 86 people here at the library and another 178 online including people from New Mexico and Colorado, and the author was presenting by Zoom from Brazil,” Lowe said.

Sometimes even a snowstorm can’t stop an online opportunity when the author or a speaker is appearing by Zoom anyway, not in person.

“If the speaker is still able to participate in the meeting, we can get the word out to those who’ve registered that the program is still happening on Zoom,” Lowe said.

Monthly book discussion groups at the Lewes Library that have an online option include:

Natural Selections Book Group, the first Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m., with nature-themed books. The Feb. 5 meeting is on “Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet” by Ben Goldfarb.
Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice Book & Film Group, the fourth Tuesday of each month 6 p.m., with discussions on classic and contemporary works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and cinematic art. The Feb. 25 discussion in on “Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People” by Tiya Miles.

Online-only book club a partnership in Elsmere and New Castle

At the Elsmere Library and the Route 9 Library & Innovation Center in New Castle, they’ve teamed up to offer a monthly online or phone-in discussion group called the Well Read Book Club.

Usually about eight people attend and new members are welcome, said library specialist Debbie Phillips.

“We have different perspectives, all ages, different backgrounds, men and women, so it makes for interesting discussions,” Phillips said. “People like the camaraderie and sense of community even though we’re not all in one room. Sometimes people call in without Zoom, and they can listen and interact with the rest of the group.”

Near the end of the year, the group selects books for the next year, so members can have a say in what’s discussed, as long as there are enough copies of the book available, preferably with large print and audio options.

The club meets the first Monday each month at 5:30 p.m. unless there’s a Monday holiday and then the meeting is moved to Tuesday.

The Feb. 3 meeting will be on Marie Benedict’s novel “The First Ladies,” about the partnership between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune.

People can register online or at the Elsmere or Route 9 libraries. Copies of the book are available at the libraries or on your own including e-book options like OverDrive, Libby and Hoopla.

If you’re new to Zoom, there’s even a guide you can see on the libraries’ websites, “How to Use Zoom.”

One of the silver linings to the cloud of the pandemic

The Zoom meetings offered in Lewes, Elsmere and New Castle are examples of programs born out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person events were restricted.

But the online option is still popular with many library patrons.

In Elsmere, Phillips said, “We have some elderly members who have difficulty getting to the library or they don’t want to drive at night, so this makes it easier for them, especially in winter.”

Others find the online meetings a convenient way to fit a book discussion group into a busy schedule or to attend a program in another town or city.

When the Lewes Public Library staff started offering programs online, they received a a heart-warming response.

“We’ve had people who’ve told us, ‘You were my lifeline during the pandemic. I tuned in every time. I didn’t care who was presenting. I just wanted to see people and talk to people,’” Lowe said.

The Zoom meetings offer the chance to participate in a discussion instead of watching a show or video alone.

“People feel like we’re kind of in the room together and they can ask questions and get responses,” Lowe said.

Some people like the idea that once you get home, you don’t have to go back out or rush to get to the library on time. If you’re insecure about your appearance, you don’t have to turn your camera on.

Others enjoy listening to the program while getting other things done around the house like fixing dinner or doing laundry.

“People still like that feeling of being part of a larger group, even if they can’t be at the library in person,” Lowe said.

Where are the public libraries in New Castle County?

Appoquinimink Public Library, 204 E. Main St., Middletown, (302) 378-5588
Bear Public Library, 101 Governor’s Place, Bear, (302) 838-3300
Brandywine Hundred Public Library, 1300 Foulk Road, Brandywine Hundred, (302) 477-3150
Claymont Public Library, 400 Lenape Way, Claymont, (302) 798-4164
Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library, 115 High St., Odessa, (302) 378-8838
Delaware City Public Library, 250 5th St., Delaware City, (302) 834-4148, DE 19706
Elsmere Public Library, 30 Spruce Ave., Elsmere, (302) 892-2210
Hockessin Public Library, 1023 Valley Road, Hockessin, (302) 239-5160
Kirkwood Library, 6000 Kirkwood Highway, near Stanton, (302) 995-7663
New Castle Public Library, 424 Delaware St., New Castle, (302) 328-1995
Newark Free Library, 750 Library Ave., Newark, (302) 731-7550
Route 9 Library & Innovation Center, 3022 New Castle Ave., New Castle, (302) 657-8020
Wilmington Public Library, 10 E. 10th St., Wilmington, (302) 571-7400
Wilmington Public Library – North Branch, 3400 N. Market St., Wilmington, (302) 761-4290
Woodlawn Public Library, 2020 W. Ninth St., Wilmington, (302) 571-7425

Where are the public libraries in Kent County?

Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover, (302) 736-7030
Harrington Public Library, 101 Little Mastens Corner Road, Harrington, (302) 398-4647
Kent County Public Library, 497 South Red Haven Lane, Dover, (302) 744-1919
Milford Public Library, 11 S.E. Front St., Milford, (302) 422-9418
Smyrna Public Library, 107 Main St., Smyrna, (302) 653-4579