Reading Groups

Reading groups are a wonderful way of sharing your love of reading and inspiring you to try something a bit different.

Libraries Unlimited can support your reading group through our Choices reading group service. You’ll get:

• A group library card with an 8-week loan period
• Over 850 reading group book titles to choose from
• Sets supplied regularly throughout the year on a pattern to suit your group

To take advantage of this service, your reading group will need to join Libraries Unlimited. To get your group ticket, speak to a member of library staff and explain you are joining as a reading group.

To join Choices, fill in an order form with your group’s details and list of titles. This can be done online, or there is a printable version which can be handed to your local library or posted direct to: Reading Group Desk, Stock Services, Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PQ. 
 

Online choices order form

Setting up a reading group

Choices list 2022
Choices order form 2022 (printable)

Choosing your sets

Book sets contain 10 books of the same title and groups choose a selection of titles for the year ahead. Please look through the Choices list with your group and decide which books you would like to read and discuss.

We ask you to choose at least 24 titles, as availability is subject to what is on our shelves at the time of selection. The availability of large print or spoken word, if your group requires this, is noted on the Choices list. (Information correct as of May 2022).

Titles newly added this year are indicated in bold.

Collecting your sets

Sets will be sent to your designated library for collection.

Please advise the dates you wish to collect your new set each month.

This won’t necessarily be your meeting date, and while we endeavour to supply sets around a week in advance, we cannot guarantee they will be available at your designated library until your stated collection date.

If you collect from a mobile library, you will need to match your collection dates to the mobile library schedule.

Please let us know as soon as possible if your dates change.

Charges

As with book requests made by individual library members, there is a charge for requesting reading sets through the Choices service. Part of this charge goes towards the purchase of new sets of books each year.

The reading group year runs September – August

Reading Group membership - £90 per year.

For this, we will supply sets of up to 10 copies, up to 12 times per year. We will also send or reserve large print/audio book versions where these are required, subject to availability of titles in these formats.

How to pay

You can pay online via Bank Transfer (BACS): sort code: 20-30-54, account number: 33266656, account name ‘Libraries Unlimited South West’. Please enter your reading group name as the payment reference.
You can pay by cash, card or cheque at your local library.
You can post a cheque to Reading Group Desk, Stock Services, Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter, EX4 3PQ. Please write your reading group name on the back of the cheque.

FAQs

When do I need to return my form by?

Existing groups who are renewing, please return your completed form by 31st August 2022

New groups, please submit your form at least two (ideally four) weeks before you wish to receive your first set.

Our group has more than 10 members, can you supply extra titles?

We can never guarantee more than 10 copies of each title, as this is the standard set size, however if you do need an extra copy or two we will do our best to accommodate this. You can also reserve extra copies from the main library stock (standard reservation charges apply) or many of the titles on the Choices list are available as eBooks. For details please go to https://libbyapp.com/library/librariesunlimited

What happens if no titles from our current list are available?

We keep groups older lists on our database and will send titles from these if nothing from the current list is available. On the rare occasions we are unable to supply any of your chosen titles, we will send you a ‘wild card’ set so that your group always has something to read.

We are joining part way through the year, do we still pay the full fee?

Groups joining after the end of February each year pay a half fee of £45.

What if my group wishes to leave the service?

We hope you enjoy being part of the Choices service, but if your group does wish to leave, just let us know.

Please note that if you leave the Choices service the group library card will revert to three-week loans, and the standard reservation charge will apply per copy for any items requested from general library stock. 

How do I contact the reading group service?

If you have any queries, please email readinggroups@librariesunlimited.org.uk or phone 01392 407043.