Skip to content

New chapter

Rossland Public Library’s book club is taking a more open approach to selecting books.

Rossland Public Library’s book club is opening a new chapter this year by taking a more open approach to selecting books using the B.C. library book club service and a relaxed meeting style.

After a survey last year showed people wanted a more open book club, the library chose to go with a new format.

“We ran last year until the summer break,” said book club coordinator and library director Lauren Roach. “We wanted to get more people involved, even if it’s only on a drop-in basis, or for a particular book.”

“It’s nice to be able to just show up, without having to be invited,” said Roach, who has tried a variety of book clubs before. “This appeals to all different types of readers.”

The new approach saw members at the September meeting choosing nine titles from the library’s selection. Members get the books on loan through the library, without having to purchase them. Each month the selected book is read and reviewed.

“I read like crazy, but always hated directed feedback. Our discussions are pretty free-flowing,” said Roach, who usually gets things started. “When people say they loved it or hated it, the discussions get really interesting.”

Resource sharing librarian Margaret Smith is coordinating getting the books in for the club. The October read is Medicine Walk by Robert Wagamese. His novel, Indian Horse, was a finalist in Canada Reads 2013. Medicine Walk is the story of Korean War vet Eldon Starlight, estranged from his teenage son, Franklin. Eldon is dying and seeks out  Franklin to take him to the mountains where he can be buried in the Ojibwa warrior way.

The library book club meets the last Wednesday of the month at the library from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m.. However, the October 29 meeting will start at 6 p.m. so the group can attend the second Rossland Reads event starting at 7 p.m. at the art gallery, where citizens will vote on the book all Rosslanders should read.

The book club atmosphere is relaxed, with refreshments supplied. For more information on the books contact the library at (250) 362-7611, visit their Facebook page or email Lauren Roach at lauren@koopmans.ca.