Book clubs

Looking to meet a group of like-minded book lovers? Hawkesbury Library Service hosts two book clubs which meet monthly. There is one evening group and one daytime group. Both are free to attend and reading material is usually supplied by the library.

Third Thursday book club

Meets every third Thursday of the month, 10am-12noon

Deerubbin Centre, 300 George Street, Windsor

Find out more on the Hawkesbury Readers blog or contact the Library on (02) 4560 4460.

Book Chat evening book club

Meets every third Tuesday of the month, 6.30-8.30pm

Rozzoli Room, Deerubbin Centre, 300 George Street, Windsor

Bookings essential. Phone (02) 4560 4460 for more information.

Come along and meet new people, find out about what others are reading and discuss what you have read. Or simply come along and listen. Things you may like to discuss are:

  • Writing style
  • Theme
  • Author
  • Impact it has had on the reader
  • A favourite scene or passage from the book.

Independent book clubs

Do you already have an established book club or thinking of starting one? Local book clubs can apply for a special Hawkesbury Library Book Club Membership card and use this to reserve and borrow book club kits.

Each kit contains 8-10 copies of the same title and a discussion guide and is available for clubs to borrow for 6 weeks at a time.

Library Book Club Membership card is great value. Find fees here. Find the application form here.

Registering a Book Club

Local book clubs are encouraged to register with Hawkesbury Library Service. Doing so will provide the book club with a Book Club Membership card that will allow them to borrow book kits.

A book club is considered to be “local” if it meets regularly within the Hawkesbury boundaries, or if a minimum of 2 book club members are Hawkesbury Library members.

To register with Hawkesbury Library Service, the following conditions will need to be met:

  • Two book club members designated as contact people for correspondence and borrowing purposes
  • An application form completed and lodged at Hawkesbury Central Library or Richmond Branch Library
  • Annual fee paid (these funds go towards purchasing new titles to create new kits
Membership Cards

To lodge your application, one of the 2 designated contact people should bring the following into one of our branches:

  • Completed application form
  • Proof of identification
  • Application fee

This will be forwarded to the book club kit coordinator for approval. Please allow up to 2 weeks for your membership to be approved and a book club membership card to be issued.

Your card will be forwarded to your nominated branch for collection when ready and your contact people will be notified by email.

Borrowing a Book Club Kit

Book club kits can only be borrowed using a Book Club Membership card. Your Book Club Membership card must be presented to collect a reserved kit.

To reserve and borrow a book club kit, complete the following steps

  • Browse book club kits using the previous link or by searching the library’s catalogue
  • Reserve the kit by clicking “reserve” and entering your Book Club membership card number and nominating a library branch to collect it from
  • Once you’ve received notification that the book club kit is ready for collection, bring your Book Club Membership card into your nominated branch and ask for the book kit

Book club kits have a 6 week loan period. This is to allow a 2-week period for pick up and return of the kit. It is not possible to renew book club kits, so the group needs to read and discuss the book within the period.

A book club should read one book at a time. A maximum of 2 kits can be on loan to a book blub to allow a handover period between last month and next month’s kits.

At your book club meeting, distribute books to club members, keeping a record of which person has which copy using the identifying number on the front cover.

Returning a Book Club Kit

Make sure you receive all copies back from members in time to return the complete kit by the due date. Book club kits must be returned as complete sets. Do not return books out of kits separately.

Please return the kit to the library desk. Kits cannot be returned through the returns chute.

The book club contact people will receive a reminder email if the kit is not returned on time.

Lost or Damaged Items

Standard library charges apply to lost or damaged items. The book club contact people will be responsible for arranging payment of any charges. Your book club may like to discuss in advance how any charges will be paid for.

Membership Changes

Over time, membership of your book club may change. Please advise staff so that your record can be adjusted.  In the case of new library contacts, the new person needs to advise the library staff and provide the Book Club Membership card along with some means of identification for themselves. Any outstanding charges should be cleared first.

Hawkesbury Library Book Sets

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