Libraries for the Blind and Print Disabled

Our primary goals for the GLS book clubs are to encourage GLS readers to explore diverse genres, authors, and writing styles, and to foster connections among fellow GLS readers through shared reading experiences and discussions.

GLS has five virtual book clubs, each led by a volunteer GLS user or a GLS staff member. These include one group exclusively for female readers, one for male readers, and three co-ed groups. Each book club session, lasting between 60 and 90 minutes, is conducted via Zoom or conference call. Each book club typically comprises 3 to 8 members. We advise patrons to contact us directly for upcoming meeting schedules.

All books selected for discussion are sourced from the NLS collection, and members are encouraged to suggest titles. GLS assists members with downloading their chosen books. Additionally, GLS staff meet with group facilitators to exchange ideas and offer recommendations.

The Book Club meets the second Saturday of the month for 90 minutes. Our reading choices can include fiction, nonfiction or biographies selected by participants at the end of the meeting. The group chooses books for up to five months ahead.

Staff creates cartridges containing all of the upcoming selections and provides instruction on using Bookshelf to navigate among titles. For patrons who ask not to use the bookshelf feature, staff provides individual titles for those patrons.

In our monthly email blast, we include a list of San Francisco Public Library branch book club selections that are available in an accessible format, either NLS recording or downloadable Overdrive audiobook. This is to support our patrons who may want to participate at neighborhood branches near their homes or with club focused on specific interests or needs, such as mystery, world literature or Spanish language.

Our Book Club meets six times per year (every other month), typically on a Tuesday or Thursday from 7:00-8:00 p.m. central time. We use Zoom and patrons can join via personal computer or dial-in with their phone. The phone number is not toll-free, so we recommend that patrons use a smartphone or cell phone rather than a landline if possible.

We announce the book club dates and titles via our monthly email newsletter, blog, and website. We ask patrons to register ahead of time to ensure they have the correct information to join our session. During the registration process, we confirm if they will need us to send them the book or if they plan to download it using BARD. We also ask how they would like to be reminded of the event: email, phone call, or both.

We pick titles from a variety of genres such as fiction, non-fiction, adventure, romance, classics, historical fiction, and literary fiction. We usually have a list of questions to generate discussion, and we always have a lively, chatty crowd with stimulating conversation. Our patrons like it and we do too.