The first ever
National Reading Group Day is on Saturday 25 June 2011. This brand new initiative will celebrate all that's good about reading groups. Reading is an activity you can enjoy on your own but many people like to share their enjoyment of books with others. It's a great way to make friends, exchange ideas and views, and pick up tips about what to read next.
RNIB runs two popular reading group activities and on Friday 24 June, will celebrate the best of these reading group activities by holding two Telephone Book Club sessions for Bookchain participants (unfortunately these sessions are now fully booked).
Bookchain
Bookchain reading groups are open to
RNIB National Library Service readers. You will receive eight titles, one at a time, through the post in audio, braille or giant print. Each time you finish a book, you submit a short review and these are compiled and shared with other readers when the Bookchain is complete. For details email
libraryinfo@rnib.org.uk
Carol Eddon says: "Bookchain is a great way to try different authors and styles of writing and that gives you ideas about other books to read. I also find other people's opinions about a book very interesting. One recent Bookchain title was Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell. Everyone else loved it but I hated it, I couldn't stand the snobbery and the silly simpering women! I find that fascinating."
James Mercer agrees: "I like crime fiction and I wouldn't usually go for biographies so when you get something different it makes reading more interesting. Sometimes you get a book that just isn't your type of read and you can't get into it, but that's why I really like the Bookchain - roll on the next one!"
Telephone Book Clubs
Telephone Book Clubs, run by RNIB Talk and Support, bring together small groups of people to share their passion for books and reading, over the telephone. Participants read books from a carefully selected book list of accessible titles, to discuss as a group and hear from exciting guest speakers including well known authors. Groups meet for and hour, once a month, over a 6 month period. The groups are free to RNIB members, or £12 for 6 sessions. RNIB covers all telephone call costs. For details email
talkandsupport@rnib.org.uk
Daphne Butler made some really nice comments:
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"I look forward to the telephone book clubs and a thoroughly enjoy it. It's nice to have another thing once a month - I look forward to it."
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"RNIB is an absolutely brilliant organisation - fantastic, so helpful"
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"I thought it (the book clubs) was a brilliant idea, I never miss a meeting."
Ian McNamara said: "I always tell my friends about Talk and Support and the telephone book clubs - I say 'give it a try'. If I wasn't a member of the telephone book club I'd miss the chance to talk about something I like with like minded people. Because you've got to pick at least two books for each book club I almost always get a book that's new to me or that I've never heard of"
Want to join a local reading group?
An increasing number of libraries run 'visually impaired reading groups' for people with sight loss in their area. Why not contact your local library to ask if there is a group you could join.
RNIB National Library Service provides practical help and advice for library staff to help them run reading groups that are accessible for blind and partially sighted people.
Borrow an extra book
If you are a National Library Service reader, did you know that you can borrow an extra title to enable you to participate in a reading group? To set this up, contact the Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email
library@rnib.org.uk