Category: Book Groups – Adults

Romance Book Club

Get your Happily Ever After fix from the new Romance Book Club! | Adults

Our Romance Book Club meets online! Registration is optional to get reminders and book choices, click for  link.

ONLINE via Zoom
Saturdays once a month | 3:00-4:00 PM | Adults
August 28
September 25
October 23
November 20
December 18

CLICK FOR ZOOM LINK for meeting each month.

Join us for the Romance Book Club! We try and read as many romance genres as we can, sharing our thoughts and expanding our romance reading experience. As long as it has a happily ever after, it’s fair game.

Typically each month we choose the book for the following month.

September Book Choice
We will be reading Deal With The Devil by Kit Rocha.

Nina is an information broker with a mission—she and her team of mercenary librarians use their knowledge to save the hopeless in a crumbling America.

Knox is the bitter, battle-weary captain of the Silver Devils. His squad of supersoldiers went AWOL to avoid slaughtering innocents, and now he’s fighting to survive.

They’re on a deadly collision course, and the passion that flares between them only makes it more dangerous. They could burn down the world, destroying each other in the process… Or they could do the impossible: team up.

Catalog link for print
Hoopla link (e-audiobook on demand, no waiting)
Overdrive link (e-book and e-audiobook)

See previous group book choices below the group guidelines – scroll down.

Our Romance collection librarian will tell you all about exciting additions to the collection, and we’ll get your input on what you’d like to see more of and what we should read.

One Saturday a month, 3-4 pm, online via Zoom. Register if you’d like to be added to our email list, but no registration is required – just join us at the Zoom link, above. For adults 18+.

Please email Elizabeth McKinstry at emckinstry@springfieldlibrary.org or Anna Mickelsen at amickelsen@springfieldlibrary.org if you have any questions, or call either one of us at 413-263-6828.

Group Guidelines

The book group will meet monthly via zoom to discuss books in the romance genre. Our definition of romance includes both HEA (Happily Ever After) and HFN (Happy For Now) endings. We will discuss what we read on our own, talk about forthcoming titles, and also pick books to read as a group, either voting on titles prepared by group leaders or taking turns selecting titles.

This book group will strive to be a safe and inclusive space. Racist and homophobic remarks will not be tolerated, and the group may set other content lines to be drawn in discussion or in reading material (e.g., mentions of self-harm, gore, sexual assault) in order to make the experience as fun for all participants as possible. As this is a romance book group, it should be assumed that books read and discussed will often include sex, sometimes explicit in nature.

Book group leaders will:

  • Read the entire book
  • Gather information to help enhance the discussion
  • Be prepared to offer counter opinions – even if they differ from our own
  • Be prepared to begin new lines of discussion when necessary
  • Not let one person monopolize the discussion
  • Be willing and prepared to take control of the group, firmly but respectfully

Book group participants will:

  • Make their best effort to complete the book
  • Come ready to both share and listen
  • Be ready to back up opinions with the “why”
  • Have a great time — if you stop enjoying it, let the leader know
Previous books read:

Books & Brew Book Club

Cure your mid-week blues with a lively book discussion. | Adults

In person at Nathan Bills Bar and Restaurant, starting in October!
First Wednesday of the month | 7:00-8:00 PM | Adults

Join a lively discussion with other book lovers, and bring your favorite brew too!

Copies of the book will be available at the Forest Park Branch Library, and often are available via Hoopla with a Springfield City Library card too. If Hoopla is new to you, check out this tutorial.

Upcoming selections:
September 1 – Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens
October 6 – Drawing Without An Eraser, by Guy McLain
November 3 – Talk with Drawing Without An Eraser Author, Guy McLain
December 1 – When We Believed in Mermaids, by Barbara O’Neal

Please email Ann Harper at aharper@springfieldlibrary.org if you have any questions or to get the Zoom link for online sessions.

Afterthoughts Book Discussion Group

A traditional book discussion group where everyone reade and discusses the same book. Join us! | Adults

NOTE: Due to the pandemic, until further notice, please join our Afterthoughts book group meetings online!

Explore great books, join in on a lively discussion, and meet others who enjoy reading too. New members are always welcome!

Afterthoughts Book Discussion Group at the Central Library
Online via Zoom
Second Tuesday of each month, from 12 – 1 PM

The group meets at noon on the second Tuesday of every month. Library copies of the book are available for curbside pickup.

Click on this link for the 2021 Reading List.

For further information or to receive an invitation to the monthly online Zoom meeting, please contact Lisa Lipshires at llipshires@springfieldlibrary.org.

What’s Cooking Cookbook Club at Central Library

Do you enjoy cooking, or would you like to improve your cooking skills?  | Adults

NOTE: While in-person programming is suspended, please join our What’s Cooking cookbook group meetings online! To register or join the email list for this group, contact Gary Pysznik at gpysznik@springfieldlibrary.org.

Central Library, Community Room
 Third Tuesday of the month | 10 – 11:30 AM | Adults

Join the monthly Cookbook Club to hear about the latest cookbooks, share great recipes, and more in this casual yet informative discussion group. Members may bring-in prepared dishes to share so the group can sample great tastes and be inspired by something new.

Coffee provided compliments of the Friends of the Library.  For more information, contact Gary Pysznik at 413-263-6828 ext. 395 or by email at gpysznik@springfieldlibrary.org.

Any Book Club (ABC)

Join our Any Book Club and share your recent reads. | Adults

FOR JULY AND AUGUST
East Forest Park Pergola (OUTSIDE)
July 14 & 28, August 11 & 25 | 10 – 11:30 AM | Adults 18+

The Any Book Club (ABC) meets twice a month to share stories about their recent reads. Each member gets 5-10 minutes to review the books they’ve read recently so others can learn about what’s great and, sometimes, what’s not!

Those who enjoy adult fiction will feel especially at home, but all adult readers are welcomed.

To help keep the program energized and focused, each session is limited so please sign-up early to save your seat. The Zoom link will be emailed to each registered person. Members can attend either or both as space allows.

The meetings will be canceled in case of bad weather.

Register for available spots on our online calendar!

U.S. History Book and Media Discussion Group at Sixteen Acres

Members are encouraged to share any conversation-provoking history books that they are reading with the group. | Adults

NOTE: While in-person programming is suspended, please join our online meetings! To register or join the email list for this group, contact Reggie Wilson at rwilson@springfieldlibrary.org.

Sixteen Acres Branch
First Tuesday of the month, at 6:00 – 7:30 PM | Adults

If you love discussing important issues concerning American history, we have good news for you. A United States history discussion group that focuses on American history books and documentaries meets monthly at the Sixteen Acres Branch. Join us!

We will also view critically acclaimed documentaries on a number of history topics. The books and documentaries are sure to spark lively discussions. Refreshments will be available.

For more information, contact Reggie at 413-263-6858.