Book Groups and Reading Resources
We have a wide variety of book groups that meet at both the Main Library and on zoom. Drop in when you can or come every month, it is up to you! Enhance your reading experience by discussing it with others! Please contact Jill Kenny (978-256-5521 x1114) with book group questions.
Please note: Most of our book groups are meeting in a hybrid format (in person at the main branch or online through zoom). Register on the library’s calendar for access each month. Books for the groups are available at the Chelmsford Main Circulation Desk.
Library Book Groups
- Bibliobites Book Group – A Book Group with a culinary focus, meets the last Friday of the month at 11 am In person only
- Evening Book Group – meets at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month (with the exception of Monday holidays and summer months), HYBRID
- Book Brunch – our “book share” reader’s advisory program meets every other month on the third Friday at 10:30am (in person by the fireplace at the main library) to hear about new books coming out and what others are reading – come ready to add to your TBR list! In person only
- History Book Group – meets at 7 pm usually on the last Thursday of the month HYBRID
- Knit Lit Book Group – In-person only in the fireplace room – Bring your craft projects (knitting, crochet, quilting, felting, etc) and work on them while discussing the latest read! Or just come to discuss the book and get inspired to start a new craft. Meets on the second Friday morning of each month at 10:30 a.m.
- Let’s Talk Books with Jill and Julie – Meets the last Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm in the McCarthy Room and on zoom (HYBRID) Choose a book from the theme of the month and come to share your book choice and leave with a list of other recommendations within the theme
- Morning Book Group – meets at 10 am on the third Wednesday of each month HYBRID
- Mystery Book Group – meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 2:00 pm HYBRID
- Novel Conversations Book Group – meets the first Friday at 12:30 pm In-person
Recent Reading Room Posts
- “This Ain’t Texas” Display - Have you ever read a Western novel? Do you know what makes a Western a Western? These novels primarily take place in the Western United States, with some books extending into Canada and Mexico, and are usually set somewhere between the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the 20th century. In … Continue reading “This Ain’t Texas” Display
- “It Came From the Library” Display - Do you love to read horror but don’t really know why you love it so much? Are you interested in reading horror but don’t know what themes you might like? Check out our “It Came From the Library” display for a selection of some of the genre’s biggest titles and stories that represent the … Continue reading “It Came From the Library” Display
- Bibliobites in February: The First Ten Years; and, No Sugar, Please! - Yes friends, in February our Bibliobites group celebrated its first decade! In the past ten years we’ve plowed through over one hundred cookbooks, and have undoubtedly produced thousands of meals and treats in the name of rigorous review. In honor of this momentous occasion, we met for a potluck lunch, where members contributed some of … Continue reading Bibliobites in February: The First Ten Years; and, No Sugar, Please!
Reading Resources
Author Alerts
Sign up to be notified by text or email when books, movies, and music from your favorite authors and artists are added to the catalog. Log in with your phone number or email address, create as many alerts as you like, and edit or delete them at any time.
Bookmarked
Commonwealth Catalog
A catalog showing the holdings of most libraries in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This catalog is free to any MA library cardholder to use to request items be sent to your local library (provided the item is not available in your local library system). Please contact the Reference Staff for help locating or requesting an item.
Core Collections: Book Recommendations
Librarian-selected book recommendations, with documented selection criteria and four recommendation levels. Individual lists cover Children’s books, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Middle & Junior High reading, and Nonfiction titles.
eSequels: Guide to Fiction
Lists popular series books in order, and is searchable by character, location, subject, author, and title, to make it easy to find books based on whatever you know about the series.
Literature Resource Center
Find up-to-date biographical information, overviews, full-text literary criticism and reviews on nearly 130,000 writers in all disciplines, from all time periods and from around the world The optional MLA International Bibliography module adds citations for hundreds of thousands of books, articles and dissertations from 1926 to the present, linked to full text where available.
NoveList: Reading Suggestions
A database of both fiction and non-fiction books that provides reviews, annotations, you-might-also-like suggestions, author read-alikes, What We’re Reading, book discussion Guides, booktalks, and annotated book lists.
WorldCat
A catalog showing most of the items held in libraries around the world. To request items in WorldCat (but not in Chelmsford’s catalog or the Commonwealth Catalog, please contact the Reference Desk.
Online Book Clubs
- ReadersCircle.org – Online directory for book clubs and reading groups of all kinds, serving the US, Canada, and Australia
- Goodreads – Online community to share book recommendations between friends and keep track of what you’ve read
Book Group Resources
- LitLovers.com – Provides resources for avid readers and book clubs alike including Reading Group Activities, Suggestions for Leading a Book Club Discussion, Guides for How to Start a Children’s Book Club, and Menu Ideas for Starting a Book Club
- The National Book Critics Circle – Founded in 1974 and consisting of 700+ book reviewers, this site elects top books in 5 general categories and also has links to other relevant book review websites
How to Start a Book Group & Reading Group Guides
- Reading Group Guides – Over 970 guides available
- Book Group Suggestions – From Harper Collins
- Reading Group Choices – The web site for the publishers of Reading Group Choices, an annual offering, with commentary, of good books for discussion