Thinking about starting a book group?  The process can begin by simply asking some people you know to help you organize the first gathering.  Address the following questions early on to create a book group that is well run, interesting, and rewarding.

Group Composition:

• What's the ideal size of the group?
• If you need to recruit members, how will you extend invitations?
• What requirements do you have for membership?

Reading Preferences:

• What types of books will you read?
• Will you focus your reading to specific topics or genres?

Selection Process:

• How will you choose which books to read?
• How far ahead will you plan?
• How will members obtain copies of books?

Meeting Logistics:

• Where will you meet?
• How often?
• Will you meet in the same location each time or rotate your meeting locations?
• How long will meetings last?
• Will refreshments be provided? 
• By whom?
• What time will be designated specifically for socializing?

Facilitating Discussions:

• How will each discussion be lead? 
• Will you designate a leader?
• Who is responsible for providing author information and giving an introduction to the group's discussion?
• What ground rules should be established?
• Can members who haven't read the book attend?
• Will guest speakers be invited?

We recommend the following resources:

• The Book Group Book:  A Thoughtful Guide to Forming and Enjoying a Stimulating Book Discussion Group, second edition by Ellen Slezak.  Chicago Review Press, ISBN 1-55652-246-0, $12.00.
   
• The Reading Group Handbook:  Everything You Need to Know from Choosing Members to Leading Discussions, revised edition by Rachel W. Jacobsohn. Hyperion, ISBN 0-7868-8324-3, $11.95.
   
• The Mother-Daughter Book Club: How Ten Busy Mothers and Daughters Came Together to Talk, Laugh and Learn Through Their Love of Reading, by Shireen Dodson and Teresa Barker.  HarperCollins, ISBN 0-0609-5242-3, $12.95.
   
• Family Sharing Groups: Start One in Your Neighborhood! , by Marjorie R. Simic and Eleanor C. MacFarlane.  Grayson Bernard Publishers, ISBN 1-8837-9011-5, $6.95.