WHEN DO YOU MEET?

The Club meets 7 P.M. on the fourth Monday of each month except December.  The Library closes at 8 P.M. so meetings are just an hour.

 

WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS DO YOU READ?

Any genre, fiction, non-fiction, you name it.  For a partial list of past selections, visit our Previous Selections Page (Once you’ve joined, we’d be happy to email you a complete list dating back to November 1998.)

 

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN?

A willingness to share your opinions and to patiently listen to others is one requirement.  An O’Fallon Library card is fairly important too.

 

WHAT ARE THE MEETINGS LIKE?

Since we enjoy each others company, we often spend a few minutes catching up.  We spend 30 to 45 minutes reviewing the current selection.  The other time is spent selecting the next book.

 

HOW IS A BOOK SELECTED?

Members suggest a title and provide a short description, number of pages, and verify sufficient copies available in the system.  This can be done by typing the title into the Search box at ofpl.info.  “Sufficient copies” tends to exclude recent publications and current best sellers.  Books that have not been read by most and are approximately 300 to 400 pages qualify.  (Since we don’t meet in December that selection  tends to be the one “big” book we read.)  After the choices have been presented we tally a show of hands.  We’ve had some great reads and we’ve had what we politely refer to as “stinkers”.

 

WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP?

Simply place a request on the book through your online account or by talking with a helpful library staff member.  When it arrives, you’re notified by an automated phone call, email or text that your book is on the hold shelf.  Your book is filed by the first letter of your last name and the last four digits of your library’s bar code.  

 

WHAT IF MY TIME IS LIMITED OR I DON’T LIKE THE BOOK?

Life happens.  If you can’t finish the book, no one judges.  This is about pleasure reading, not homework!  If that happens, come anyway and tell us what you thought about what you did read and make your suggestion for the next month.  If you enjoyed it, maybe you’ll finish it later when time permits.  And, for those “stinkers”, plenty of us have closed the partially read book never to open it again. 

 

ARE THERE ANY FEES OR DUES?

There are no dues and no purchases necessary.  The only fee would be if you fail to return the book before the lending due date.  For most books, the default lending time is three weeks which could be the week before the next meeting.  Either renew your book via your account online or ask a Librarian to check your book out with a due date on or after the next meeting.

 

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Please visit ofpl.info/events/bookclub. Stephanie Favela is the Club’s main contact.  Call her at 618-206-4345 or email [email protected]