We don't purchase the books that our book clubs read so I can't answer your question directly, but we do have a book club collection. We get our book club books in one of two ways: when a very popular title is no longer popular and we have many copies of it and I think it would make a good discussion book, we add those extra copies to our book club collection. We only have room for one, at most two, copies of any title on our regular fiction shelves. Second, I grab any free titles that sound interesting whenever another library is weeding their book club sets and so far, I've never had anyone complain that our book club collection is just "old" stuff. If they haven't read it, it's new to them.
We have anywhere from 4-10 copies of each book club title and, although we shelve them together in our Book Club Collection section, we allow the books to be checked out individually. I'd like to make a small plea to consider doing the same because, just today and many, many other times, our patrons request what they think is one book but turns out to be a book club kit with ten books in a large bag. They're not happy, and yes I know, they should place their holds more carefully, but still. Back in the day when the only format choice was hard cover or paperback, this book club kit model made a lot of sense. Now we have ebooks and audiobooks along with the physical book - meaning the likelihood that anyone needs ten copies is much smaller today. Just anecdotally - from casual conversations I've had with people I notice checking out book club books - I think we have as many people checking these books out just to read by themselves as we do people checking them out for a book discussion. My point being that they seem to be popular for more than just book clubs, but I don't think they would be if people had to take ten copies at a time.
Food for thought!
Deb Hemmye
Library Director
Huntington Woods Public Library
26415 Scotia Road
Huntington Woods, MI 48070
248-543-9720, ext. 686
Currently listening to Eddie Winston is Looking for Love, by Marianne Cronin.
Library Director
Huntington Woods Public Library
26415 Scotia Road
Huntington Woods, MI 48070
248-543-9720, ext. 686
Currently listening to Eddie Winston is Looking for Love, by Marianne Cronin.
From: "Michlib" <michlib-l@liblists.org>
To: "Michlib" <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2026 1:44:33 PM
Subject: [Michlib-l] Book Club Books
To: "Michlib" <michlib-l@liblists.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2026 1:44:33 PM
Subject: [Michlib-l] Book Club Books
Hello,
I was hoping to find out what other libraries do with the books after a book club is finished with them? Do you keep them in circulation, repurpose them, or use them in another way?
I'd also love to know if your library offers book club kits, and how frequently they circulate?
Thank you for any insight you have. I really appreciate it!
Ashley Gillies
Adult Services Librarian
Southfield Public Library
26300 Evergreen Road
Southfield, MI 48076
(248) 796-4377
(she/her/hers)
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