[Publib] Book Club Books

[Elizabeth Bradt]

Bobbi Newman:

The Tuscaloosa Public Library has book clubs for adults at both the main
library and a branch.  There are about 15 to 20 people who attend
regularly at main and about 10 at the branch.

We purchase paperback books which we lend to participants.  Depending on
the number of copies of the title we have in the circulating collection,
we purchase between 10 and 15 copies.  The book club participants can
purchase the book if they want to (and some do) or just return it after
the meeting.  Although we keep a record of who has taken a book in a
notebook we don't process the books, keep circulation figures for the
books, or take any steps to retrieve missing books.  

We make the books available as a set for other book clubs with a similar
informal note in a notebook.  

After use by the book club, when needed we add some of the copies to the
regular circulating collection.  We have also added some copies to our
unprocessed deposit collections at residential facilities such as
nursing homes, shelters and jails. 

Elizabeth J. Bradt
Assistant Director
Tuscaloosa Public Library
1801 Jack Warner Parkway
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
205-345-5820