Help! I’ve Never Been To Book Club Before

If you’re looking for a book club to join, the New Orleans Public Library has you covered. We offer clubs on four days of the week, at nine locations throughout the city, and with topics ranging from short stories to mysteries, true crime to classic novels. There’s a club for every reader! 

If you’re familiar and confident with being in a book club, head to our Book Clubs webpage to find the right one for you. If you’re a first-timer or a little nervous to join a new group, here are some tips to help you jump in, participate, and have a great time. 

Tip #1: Read the Book 

Okay, this one might seem obvious, but it’s a busy world out there! Who hasn’t checked out a Library book just to let it sit on your home bookshelf through four renewals before finally accepting that you simply don’t have time right now?  

Good news: the Library’s book clubs choose readings of all different lengths, so you can pick what works best for you.  

If short stories are your speed right now, check out SciFi/SciFact: Stories and Essays at Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center, or Teatime Reading Nook: A Short Story Book Club for Busy Folk at Cita Dennis Hubbell Library.  

Byte Sized Short Story Club at the Main Library was built for readers who don’t have any prep time at all. Come as you are, no advance reading necessary, and listen to an audio version of a short story to discuss after. 

If you do have time to read a monthly novel, we have plenty of options for you as well: 

• Central City Book Salon at Central City Library 
• Scarier Than Fiction at Milton H. Latter Memorial Library (starting December 2026) 
• West Bank Book Club at Algiers Regional Library 
• Who Dun It? Mystery Book Club at Nora Navra Library 
• African American Literature & The Urban Experience at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library 
• Bywater Book Club at Alvar Library 

Tip #2: If You’re Nervous, Bring a Cheat Sheet 

Some book clubbers thrive on sharing their opinions and answering discussion questions on the spot. Others need a moment to reflect, and still others might worry about how valuable their contributions will really be. 

If you need a confidence boost or you like showing up extra prepared, notes are a great idea. Jot down your thoughts as you read, on paper or your notes app. If you want to dig deeper, you can look up a brief author biography to share or find some online reviews of the book. 

If you aren’t sure how much to prepare or participate, here’s a good rule of thumb: bring a list of three questions or opinions you’d like to share about the book. Even if you only have time to mention one or two, it will be the perfect amount to keep the conversation going without taking over.  

Tip #3: Silence Doesn’t Have to be Awkward 

We all dream of a book club with sparkling, intellectual conversation, maybe even to be continued at a coffee shop after the meeting ends. But sometimes clubs take a little longer to warm up, and that’s okay too! 

At the Library, every book club has a facilitator who makes sure all participants are welcome, encourages discussion, and asks thought-provoking questions. If you’re drawing a blank, the facilitator can keep the conversation going. However, that can also be the ideal time for you to sit back and listen to the other club members. If someone’s opinion isn’t completely explained, ask a follow-up question. If they mention a general theme about the book, try to pinpoint a specific example in the text. Or, just tell your fellow members when they have a great idea or observation. If you came in feeling nervous, maybe others did too, and they’ll always appreciate the support. 

With these tips under your belt, you’ll be more than ready to participate in your first book club. Who knows? Before long, you might be running a club of your own.