| By Rose Huling | Bookmobile & Outreach Coordinator | Morse Institute Library (Natick, MA) |
All eyes were on me as I stood up in front of the senior citizen’s book club that I took over on a whim. This was not a decision I made confidently; I am a complete novice when it comes to book clubs. However, activity leaders in the home had been constantly changing, and I decided it was time for the residents to experience consistency.
Dedicated to improving the group’s content, I chose to attend the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS) conference. Thorndike staff did an excellent job explaining the idea and rationale behind this program. The final price was determined reasonable, so I decided to make the purchase. All that was left to do was read!
“What have I gotten myself into?” I thought as I began the first meeting. I was reading, “A Man Called Ove,” a guide that the Thorndike staff shared with me. My initial feeling of worry quickly disappeared as I began to dive into the book. I was able to facilitate the group thanks to the questions and information in the guide. We shared, we laughed, we discussed and we took the first steps to become a community.
Feelings of empowerment and excitement took over as the group meeting came to a successful close; I was on “Cloud 9.” Professionally, I had taken a big step with this program. I saw how a book group could provide additional benefits to my seniors. Hope and anticipation arose from the members as a sense of comradery and community took place.
Thorndike Press has created an excellent program with a wide variety of offerings. From the title selection, to the background information, to the supplemental resources, and the questions specifically geared towards senior population, it truly is a winner.
I owe every ounce of my success to Thorndike Press. Not only are their products impressive, but their staff were extremely responsive and provided me with their full attention and effort to answer any question I had. Without them, I would not have been able to run such a smooth and engaging book club. I feel extremely confident in recommending this program to anyone who is working with seniors.
Want to learn more about starting a Senior Book Group in your library? Learn more or speak with your library sales consultant today!
Rose Huling is the Bookmobile & Outreach Coordinator for the Morse Institute Library in Natick, Massachusetts (since 2003). Rose is also an active member of the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services (ABOS). In 2013, she received the John Philip Excellence in Outreach Award for her leadership in the ABOS organization and the outreach community.