Dickinson library offers Book Club in a Bag

The Dickinson Area Public Library has launched a program for book clubs as the result of a recent survey.

Library Director Renee Paasch asked library patrons what services they would like to see added.

“The three top ones were to show movies, provide coffee and book clubs,” she said.

The library has added movies, made coffee available to patrons and invested in the Book Club in a Bag program.

Through her research, Paasch learned libraries around the country have similar clubs.

“We purchase the books so clubs don’t have to buy multiple copies,” she said. “There are 10 copies of the book in each bag and with it, you get a list of discussion questions.”

A summary of the book and biographical information of the author is added, she said.

The members keep the books for an eight-week period.

“We figured eight weeks was enough time to distribute the books to members, give time to read and have their discussions,” Paasch said.

The library has 11 sets of books in a bag and it plans to get more.

“My hope is book clubs will contact the library and offer suggestions as to what their club would like to read,” Paasch said. “Obviously, we can make the decision, but if it’s something the book clubs don’t want to read, we’re wasting a lot of money.”

Friends of the Library donated $1,500 to get the program started. The donation covered cost of the bags and the books.

The program, which started in January, is expected to grow.

Paasch’s hope is Book Club in a Bag inspires more book clubs to organize. She knows of at least three clubs in the area, but believes there are more. Book clubs are welcome to meet at the library’s community room, free of charge. Members may serve refreshments.

Donna Wolf’s book club has checked out Book Club in a Bag twice since it started. Members are now reading “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See, which is set in China when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion.

Wolf, who serves on the Friends of the Library Board, appreciates the program.

“It’s very nice that we can go down and pick up a bag, decide what book to read and not have to buy it,” Wolf said. “You have plenty of time to read it, and there are questions to talk about, so that is really nice too.”

The collections will stay indefinintely as books in a bag.

For more information, visit the library at 1329 Third St. W.

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