Love to read? Let’s make it a group thing.
Whether your family is joining us for your first in-branch Story Time or you’re rediscovering old favourites with new friends, there’s a club—and a reading community—waiting for you here.
Book Club Support
The library can help you with running your own book club! We have Book Club Kits you can borrow, and we can help you find awesome books to read.
- Ask your library how many copies of the book your club wants to read are in the collection.
- Check to see if there is a Book Club Kit for the book or ask library staff to help.
- Library staff can help you with placing your holds.
- Library staff can also help you pick good books, find questions to talk about, learn about the author, and the historical background for the book.
Join a Book Club to see what it is all about
Check our calendar and see if your library is running a book club or join one of our online book clubs.
Book Club Kits FAQs
A Book Club Kit is made of 6 to 8 copies of a book stored in a plastic tote.
If you have a library card, you can borrow a Book Club Kit! The person who borrows the Kit is responsible for bringing the complete Kit (tote and all books) to the library by the due date.
You can borrow a Book Club Kit for 42 days. Sorry, you can’t keep it longer or renew it.
When you’re done with the Book Club Kit, return it to a library worker at the front desk of your local library. You must return everything together in the box. If there are missing or damaged books, you might have to pay for them.
Place a hold on a Book Club Kit on our online catalogue or ask library staff for help.
Because these Kits are popular, it might take some time to get the Kit you want. We suggest that you put a hold on a Kit well ahead of your next meeting, then pause the hold until a date closer to the month you need it.
TIP: There is no limit to the number of Kits that can be borrowed by one person at any one time. Some book clubs find it useful to plan on two Kits per month to increase the chance that a Kit will arrive on time.
Librarians choose the books for the Kits based on if they would be good to talk about, have important ideas, and if they are culturally impactful. If you have suggestions for books, please share them with staff at your library.
More Questions? Ask your local library branch for help.
Tips for Running a Book Club
Useful Websites
These websites can help you find good discussion questions for your book club and help you make your next book club choice.
- NoveList:
Log in using your library card and PIN and search through thousands of popular fiction. You can find authors or books like the ones you enjoyed, reading lists, and guides for talking about books. - Reading Group Choices:
Search for books by their title, author, or what they’re about. You’ll find summaries, info about authors, and ideas to start conversations in book clubs. - Reading Group Guides:
This website has guides for many books that are great for book clubs.
What Should You Read?
Choose books that will make your group talk and think. Things to look for:
- Award winners.
- Good reviews.
- Classic books that are well-known.
- Canadian authors.
- Books about important or tough topics.
- Different kinds of books like graphic novels, science fiction, and magical realism, or nonfiction.
Role of a Book Club Leader
A book club leads helps things go smoothly. You can take turns being the leader. Without a leader, book clubs can become just social gatherings and people might not talk about the book.
To have a great book club discussion, leaders should:
- Send an email about a week before the meeting with things like articles, interviews, or videos related to the book. This can help start discussions.
- Before the meeting, think of questions about the book, you can find questions on the internet, too. Choose parts of the book to read out loud and discuss.
- During the meeting, keep everyone focused on the book. If the conversation slows down, ask more questions.
- Pay attention to who talks a lot and who is quiet. Make sure everyone gets a chance to share their thoughts.
Remember, the goal is to have fun together while talking about books. Enjoy your book club meetings!
Story Time
Join us for in-library and online Story Times
Story Time celebrates the joys of language and story through the use of music, puppets, picture books, storytelling, and more! Sign up for Story Times using the registration links below, or view all in-library or online Story Times and register for them on the ORL’s Events Calendar.
Story times at the Library
Check in with your nearest library branch to see what they may be offering for Story Times, and to view registration details.
Online Story Times
Join in for these online programs no matter where you live! Register online to get the Microsoft Teams link information. Please include your email! Need help getting started with Teams? Download our Teams Help Sheet [PDF] or, view our help tutorial.
ORL Storywalks
What is a StoryWalk® ?
A StoryWalk® is an innovative and exciting way for children and adults to enjoy reading and the outdoors together.
Pages from a children’s book are installed along a path or in the windows of local businesses. As you stroll along the route, you are directed to the next page in the story.
Follow the pages of the book and enjoy walking and talking with your children as you read the story together. StoryWalks® encourage literacy, reading, health, connection and play!