Iowa Library Book Discussion Groups

Ongoing Book Discussions

Use this form to send information about your library's recurring book discussions.

Akron Public Library

4 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month in the library meeting room.

Ames Public Library

Ames Public Library offers a wide variety of book clubs and discussion groups. Visit us online for information about ongoing and upcoming discussions.

Anamosa Library and Learning Center

The "Anamosa Reads" program is a semi-annual event, with a spring meeting in April and a fall meeting in October. Discussion is open to all members of the community. Selections usually reflect contemporary, popular fiction or other titles of special interest. The program convenes in the library's meeting room on the third Thursday of April and October from 7-8pm.

Ankeny Public Library

Two book discussions meet monthly throughout the year. Afternoon Group meets the second Tuesday at 1:00 PM. Evening Group meets the third Thursday at 7:00PM. Books are available at the check-out desk one month prior to the discussion.

Aplington Legion Memorial Library

Book discussion group meets from September - May, generally on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.

Bondurant Book Discussion Group

The Bondurant Book Discussion Group meets once a month, on the second Tuesday of each month. Our meetings take place at our "new" library at 104 2nd St. NE, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The discussions our very informal and chatty,and we love to have new members.

Carroll Public Library

The Carroll Public Library book discussion group meets the third Tuesday of the month, September through May at 6:30. The library has copies of the books to be discussed one month in advance of the discussion. This is an informal group with no appointed leader, so come prepared to discuss or just listen to other opinions. Bring a paper and pencil to get ideas of good books others have read this month. The decaf coffee is always fresh!

Cedar Falls Public Library

The Tuesday Morning book discussion group generally meets at 10 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The Tuesday evening group meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month. We also host the Friday morning book talk, more of a lecture series, at 10 a.m. on the fourth Friday of the month.

Clarion Public Library

The library has a book discussion at noon and 7 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of the month. They do not meet in the summer months of June, July and August.

Clive Public Library: Nonfiction Book Discussion Group

Adults who enjoy reading biographies, history and other non-fiction books are invited to attend. The group meets monthly on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. Bring information about one or two non-fiction books you enjoyed and share your impressions with others. Refreshments. No registration or cost to participate. September 8, October 13, November 10, December 8, 2008.

Clive Public Library: Adult Book Club

The Clive Book Club invites adults to join this interesting and stimulating reading discussion group. The Club meets in the Community Room at the Clive Public Library at 7:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of every month (except December). Informative discussions are held on the chosen novel with impressions and opinions being shared by all. Anyone interested may attend any or all of the monthly discussions; there is no cost to participate. Some copies of most selections are available for checkout at the Library.

Clive Public Llibrary: Family Book Club

Families with children ages 10 and older are welcome to attend. We’ll share excellent books, great discussions and a chance to spend some quality time together. We will meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Some copies of each selection will be available for check out at the Library the month before. September 2, October 7, November 4, December 2, 2008.

Roy R. Estle Memorial Library, Dallas Center

Group meets the third Thursday of each month (except December) at 7:30 p.m. in the library program room. The upcoming titles to be discussed can be found the library's Web site under "book club."

Des Moines, State Historical Society of Iowa Library

The Historical Library's Book Discovery Discussions meet six times a year on the fourth Wednesday of alternating months: January, March, July, September and November from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Selections feature material with an Iowa connection either through content or a bibliographic aspect of the author(s).

State Historical Society Library, Des Moines, IA

State Historical Society Library Book Discovery Discussions. The book discussions are held on the 3rd Wednesday of every other month and meet in Classroom A on the 3rd floor of the Historical Building, 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., March 26 and May 28. There are no fees. Participants may bring their lunch or may choose to purchase one from Baratta's Cafe. Questions? Contact Librarian Susan Jellinger, 515.281.6897 or susan.jellinger@iowa.gov

Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Dubuque

Carnegie-Stout Public Library's book discussion for adults meets bi-monthly on the second Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the 2nd floor gallery of the library. Group meets in January, March, May, July, September and November. Fiction and non-fiction are discussed. Copies of the title being discussed may be picked up at the circulation desk a month before the discussion.

James Kennedy Public Library - Dyersville

Another "Books for Lunch" group meets at the Kennedy Public Library at noon of the third Monday of each month to share information about what they personally reading. Bring your lunch. Coffee and cookies provided.

Ely Public Library

The Ely Public Library hosts a Brown Bag Book Club the second Thursday of each month at noon. Anyone is welcome to bring their lunch and enjoy some lively discussion. We do not read a specific book each month but talk about our current favorite authors and books. It is a great way to share what you enjoy and find out what others are reading.

Glenwood Public Library

The Glenwood Public Library hosts a "Brown Bag Book Discussion" the second Wednesday of each month. We meet in the "Courtesy Room" at noon. It has grown into a group of about 25 people. The book selection is read by all and then talked about at the meeting. Once a year, we offer the "All Iowa Reads" book as our discussion title.

Harlan Community Library "Library and Lunch" Book Discussion Group

The Harlan Community Library book discussion group meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Bring your own brown bag lunch to our group "Library and Lunch." Each month's selection is chosen by the group's participants except for the May meeting which is designated All Iowa Reads Month.

Indianaola Public Library

Two book discussions meet monthly throughout the year. The morning club meets the second Friday of each month at 10:00AM. The evening group meets the fourth Thursday at 7:00PM. The evening club meets 11 times a year (taking a break during December) whereas the morning book club meets every month. Books are available at the check-out desk one month prior to the discussion.

Kalona Public Library

The Kalona Public Library's Coffee Talk book club meets once a month on the last Friday. It is a discussion group for junior high and high school students, and we always have snacks! Some months we have a genre-based "book pass" where we choose a genre and everyone brings a book to share. Other months we choose a specific title to read. The group meets year-round, with added energy in the summer.

Kalona Public Library

The club meets eight times over the course of a year--reading, reviewing, and discussing recent and classic works of fiction and non-fiction by authors from around the world. Book Club members choose the eight books for the coming year every spring. The Book Club takes summer and December off. All book group meetings are held on on the last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Velma Skola Program Room at the library.

Knoxville Public Library

Our book discussion group meets all year on the third Thursday evening of each month. For more information, click on "Calendar" on our Web site.

Laurens Public Library

The Laurens Public Library hosts a book discussion the 4th Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. We discuss a wide variety of books as suggested by our patrons. This is open to anyone who would like to join us. Multiple copies of the monthly book of choice are available at the library.

Lake Mills Public Library

The Lake Mills Public Library's book discussion group meets the third Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. at the library. We meet each month except December.

Lisbon Public Library

Reading Friends, a book discussion group for adults, meets year round (except in December) on the fourth Monday of the month at 7 PM in the Lisbon Public Library. We read a variety of fiction, nonfiction, classics and contemporary works. All titles are borrowed from other libraries and are available at the library before discussion. All are welcome.

Marion Public Library

"Food for Thought" is a discussion group that meets the 4th Tuesday of each month, except December. Meetings are at noon and last about an hour. Discussions usually center around a theme, rather than a specific book title. Brown bag lunch is encouraged and a beverage is provided.

Mason City Public Library

The Mason City Public Library Book Club for adults meets the second Thursday of the month, September through May (with no meeting in December) at 2:30pm. During 2010, the club meets at Borealis Coffee Shop 316 N Federal Ave. due to the library building renovation project. We will move back into the library building late in 2010. Booklists are compiled at the May meeting for possible discussion during the fall session. Members volunteer to lead each month's discussion.

Mechanicsville Public Library

The book discussion group meets once a month on Thursday evenings. we discuss books suggested by staff or by our members. Our group usually takes a break during the summer months.

New Hampton Public Library

The New Hampton Public Library hosts adult book discussions on a monthly basis from late August through May. They generally meet the third Tuesday of the month. Participants may choose to attend a 9 a.m. or 6:45 p.m. session. At the first meeting of the year, participants share books they have read and make suggestions for discussions. Postcards are sent as reminders.

Nevada Public Library

The Nevada Public Library Reading Group meets to discuss a variety of different genres. Meetings are generally at 6:30 p.m. the last Thursday of the month.

North Liberty Community Library

We do a "Last Tuesday of the Month" book club for adults. They read a different book each month. Books selected are from a variety of genres and topics by the members. They do try and stay away from current best sellers as it is hard get the number of books needed for everyone. We also have an adult Summer Reading Program book discussion loosely based on the theme of the Summer Reading Program. This is for six weeks. We have done and hope to do again a Brown Bag Lunch book discussion for homeschoolers throughout the school year. This group is for 4th through 12th grades. It is divided into 4th-6th graders and junior/senior high students. They met one Thursday a month at lunch time. Books were selected by the students

Pella Public Library Book Discussion Group

The Pella Public Library Brown Bag Book Club meets at noon on the last Thursday of each month. There is no meeting in December.

Perry Public Library

The Book Discussion Group meets in the community room from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month. If you are interested in joining the group, stop by the front desk at the library and sign up, or call (515) 465-3569.

Polk City Community Library

The Polk City Community Library has three book clubs. They meet on the second Saturday of the month at 9 a.m., the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. and the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Shenandoah Public Library

Reading Club--2nd Tuesday @ 7 p.m. Group usually reads one book each month and then discusses it. Books Sandwiched In--3rd Tuesday @ noon for an hour. Attendees bring and eat their lunch while a presenter reviews a book and discussion follows. Usually meets Sept.-Oct. and Jan.-May.

Sioux Center Public Library: Coffee Chat

Coffee Chat is held the 3rd Saturday of every month at Butler's Cafe & Coffee. Each month's selection is chosen by the group's participants. For the latest information, visit our Web site and select the "Services" tab.

Sioux City Public Library: Booked on Crime

Sioux City Public Library: Booked on Crime. Mystery lovers of all ages meet at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at The Wilbur Aalfs (Main) Library, except in July.

Sioux City Public Library: OPEN BOOK Club

The Sioux City Public Library OPEN BOOK club meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month (2nd Monday when Library is closed for a holiday) at the Morningside Branch Library, 4005 Morningside Ave, Sioux City.

Urbandale Public Library

Information available on our Web site for the evening book discussion group and noon Brown Bag Book Club.

Waterloo Public Library

The book discussion group meets at 6 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month. We do not meet in December. We discuss the assigned title, but always include reviews and recommendations of other good reads.

Waukee Public Library

Waukee Public Library's book discussion group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Refreshments are provided and new members are always welcome. We read a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction and always include the All Iowa Reads selection in our offerings during the year.

West Point Public Library

The West Point Public Library Book Club, The Book Babes, began in March of 2003 and meets monthly except for August when the community sponsors a Corn Festival. At the present there are sixteen female members (from over age 80 to in their 20's)who gather on the third Saturday of the month at 8:30 A.M. at the Library. The book discussed is most often a best seller found on a current book list, a classic, or a recommendation by a member. Questions are provided to stimulate discussion. Attendance is remarkable considering the Saturday time.