Special Topic Summary

I love reading. I began reading at an early age and my earliest book discussions were with my mother who taught me to read. Because reading was a passion with my mom also, when I went to school and began to check out books, I would bring them home and share with her. Many books we would read aloud together, some we would read separately then discuss them. The only thing better than finding and reading a good book/author is having someone to share in your discovery. In the article "Celebrity Book Clubs and Public Libraries: Opportunity or Threat", David McNemeny says it another way, "The ability to meet with like-minded souls and discuss literature transforms the act of reading from a solitary one to a community one, thus enriching the enjoyment gained."(2019).

Book discussion groups certainly aren't new. Public libraries have been providing this service to the communities they serve for some time. Also bookstores are now offering book clubs for their customers. We now have online book clubs, television book clubs as well as Instagram or bookgrammers. Over the last several years, with the advent of the various venues for book discussions, we have celebrities joining the ranks of those providing the book clubs. The most famous of these is Oprah Winfrey.

There have been positives to the addition of celebrity book clubs. There have been many discussions surrounding the impact of celebrity endorsement on book sales. But besides that, public libraries find the promotion by celebrities aid in the promotion of reading to communities. Oprah's club sought to ensure libraries were central to the process. ALA has been a strong supporter of her initiative. I believe all efforts to encourage reading and to share the love of reading should be applauded and supported. Our schools and libraries across the country have literacy programs where we assist struggling readers (adults and children). We as librarians can take advantage of this trend and build a community of readers.