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Welcome to Vancouver Island Regional Library

Home / Read, Watch, Listen / Read / Book Club Sets

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  • Book Club Sets

Browse Book Club Sets

The marrow thieves Cover
The marrow thieves
Dimaline, Cherie, 1975- author.
Lion : a long way home Cover
Lion : a…
Brierley, Saroo, author.
Speaking our truth : a journey of reconciliation Cover
Speaking our truth…
Gray Smith, Monique, 1968- author.
April Raintree [book club set] Cover
April Raintree [book…
Mosionier, Béatrice, 1949- author.
Unwind [book club set] Cover
Unwind [book club…
Shusterman, Neal.
The fault in our stars Cover
The fault in…
Green, John, 1977- author.
Code name Verity [book club set] Cover
Code name Verity…
Wein, Elizabeth.
The bite of the mango [book club set] Cover
The bite of…
Kamara, Mariatu.
The unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry [book club set] : a novel Cover
The unlikely pilgrimage…
Joyce, Rachel.
Wild [book club set] : from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail Cover
Wild [book club…
Strayed, Cheryl, 1968-
Quiet  [book club set] : the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking Cover
Quiet [book club…
Cain, Susan.
Eating dirt [book club set] : deep forests, big timber, and life with the tree-planting tribe Cover
Eating dirt [book…
Gill, Charlotte, 1971-
Coraline [book club set] Cover
Coraline [book club…
Gaiman, Neil.
The magician's elephant  [book club set] Cover
The magician's elephant…
DiCamillo, Kate.
Nim's Island [book club set] Cover
Nim's Island [book…
Orr, Wendy, 1953-
Pippi Longstocking  [book club set] Cover
Pippi Longstocking [book…
Lindgren, Astrid, 1907-2002.
Where the mountain meets the moon  [book club set] Cover
Where the mountain…
Lin, Grace.
Number the stars  [book club set] Cover
Number the stars…
Lowry, Lois.
Elijah of Buxton  [book club set] Cover
Elijah of Buxton…
Curtis, Christopher Paul.
Charlie and the chocolate factory  [book club set] Cover
Charlie and the…
Dahl, Roald.
The graveyard book  [book club set] Cover
The graveyard book…
Gaiman, Neil.
The city of Ember [book club set] Cover
The city of…
DuPrau, Jeanne.
The Hunger Games [book club set] Cover
The Hunger Games…
Collins, Suzanne.
The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian [book club set] Cover
The absolutely true…
Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Half-blood blues [book club set] Cover
Half-blood blues [book…
Edugyan, Esi.
The virgin cure [book club set] Cover
The virgin cure…
McKay, Ami, 1968-
Jane Eyre [book club set] Cover
Jane Eyre [book…
Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855.
The namesake [book club set] Cover
The namesake [book…
Lahiri, Jhumpa.
The Sisters Brothers [book club set] Cover
The Sisters Brothers…
deWitt, Patrick, 1975-
The Woefield poultry collective [book club set] Cover
The Woefield poultry…
Juby, Susan, 1969-
Still Alice [book club set] : a novel Cover
Still Alice [book…
Genova, Lisa.
The thirteenth tale [book club set] Cover
The thirteenth tale…
Setterfield, Diane.
Bride of New France [book club set] Cover
Bride of New…
Desrochers, Suzanne, 1976-
Major Pettigrew's last stand  [book club set] : a novel Cover
Major Pettigrew's last…
Simonson, Helen.
Secret daughter [book club set] Cover
Secret daughter [book…
Gowda, Shilpi Somaya.
The Finkler question [book club set] Cover
The Finkler question…
Jacobson, Howard.
The art of racing in the rain [book club set] : a novel Cover
The art of…
Stein, Garth.
The best laid plans [book club set] : a novel Cover
The best laid…
Fallis, Terry.
Summer of my amazing luck [book club set] : a novel Cover
Summer of my…
Toews, Miriam, 1964-
A gate at the stairs [book club set] : a novel Cover
A gate at…
Moore, Lorrie.
Crow Lake  [book club set] Cover
Crow Lake [book…
Lawson, Mary, 1946-
Late nights on air [book club set] Cover
Late nights on…
Hay, Elizabeth, 1951-
Pride and prejudice [book club set] Cover
Pride and prejudice…
Austen, Jane, 1775-1817.
Women of the silk [book club set] Cover
Women of the…
Tsukiyama, Gail.
Little Bee [book club set] Cover
Little Bee [book…
Cleave, Chris.
Brooklyn [book club set] : a novel Cover
Brooklyn [book club…
Tóibín, Colm, 1955-
The cave [book club set] Cover
The cave [book…
Saramago, José.
The bishop's man [book club set] : a novel Cover
The bishop's man…
MacIntyre, Linden.
The hero's walk : a novel Cover
The hero's walk…
Badami, Anita Rau, 1961- author.
The birth house  [book club set] : a novel Cover
The birth house…
McKay, Ami, 1968-
More Book Club Sets

What do we get in the set?

Each set contains up to 12 copies of one title and a discussion guide in a tote bag.  Most sets are Fiction books and some are popular non-fiction titles.

Sets are convenient because you and your members know that you will all have a copy of the book you are reading at the same time.  The library often will not have enough available regularly circulating copies of one title for your book club, and a common complaint from book club members who do not use library book club sets is that it is a struggle and/or expensive to find titles that their members choose.

How do we borrow them?

A registered library user may apply for a book club card on behalf of a reading group.  Up to two people may be issued these library cards and they are responsible for the sets borrowed.  Requests may be placed on any title in our Book Club Collection (use the Available Now filter to see ones that are checked in).  You can have up to 10 requested holds for sets at one time.

You can also browse the sets in person. Most of the sets are housed at the Nanaimo North branch with smaller numbers kept at the Cowichan (Duncan), Nanaimo Harbourfront, and South Cowichan (Mill Bay) branches. Feel free to call ahead of your visit with any questions.

What is the loan period?

Book club sets are available for loan for six weeks.  They may be renewed once if there are no other requests, though sets tend to be very popular and have holds on them. Book clubs may borrow a maximum of two titles at one time.

How do we return the set? What are the late fees?

The book club set, containing 12 copies of the book plus the discussion guide, should be returned in the VIRL bag to the circulation desk of your local branch. It is important to return all items together in the bag because the set is not considered returned unless all pieces are there.  Often your book club set will not fit it in the library’s book drop, so you will want to make sure you return it to your local branch during regular library hours.

We do not currently have late fees, however, if one or more copies of the book in a set are not returned after 120 days or the item is lost or damaged, there is a replacement cost.

Once I request a set, when will it arrive?

We understand that it can be tricky to ensure you have a set available for your book club meeting. Depending on your location, and how many holds are on a set, it can become difficult to predict when your requested set will arrive. A strategy to best enjoy the benefits of the book club sets is to decide with your group on some possible titles to read and have your authorized book club card holders monitor the progress of your holds, then read which ever set arrives when you need one for a meeting. Some clubs find it useful to suspend their holds on certain titles to ensure that they arrive at a convenient time.

Unfortunately, sets can be delayed for a variety of reasons. Your local branch can help you request a set that is currently available so you are not left without a book selection for your meeting.

How do I go about having my own book club?

Starting and Running a Book Club

Request a book form our catalogue:

  • Reading between the Wines – The Story of A Traveling Book Club
  • Running Book Discussion Groups – A How-to-do-it Manual

Online resources:

  • BookBrowse.com – Getting started, the first meeting, moderating, choosing books and more! Also reading guides by author, title, genre and theme.
  • Mostly, We Eat! – A book club that has discussed titles over food for almost 20 years, shares their titles, resources and tips for choosing books.

Discussion Guides

  • NoveList – This database includes reading guides containing author biographies, plot summaries and discussion questions.
  • BookClubs.ca – The focus here is on Canadian titles and includes reading guides, information about author events, and books in the news.
  • Reading Group Choices – Here you can search for books by title, author or subject to find book summaries, author biographies and conversation starters for book club discussions.

Online Book Clubs

  • DAILYLIT – Sign up for free to receive installments of classics, best selling and award winning titles by email. Includes discussion forums.
  • Oprah’s Book Club – Oprah’s book club selections, questions, author interviews.
  • booktalk.org  – A free book discussion forum and online reading group dedicated to “quality books, good people and great conversations”. Anyone is welcome to join.

More Questions?

Call your local branch.

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