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 at the main branch and online) to hear about new books coming out and what others are reading – come ready to add to your TBR list! HYBRID
• 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.
• 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 HYBRID

Recent Reading Room Posts

• Crime! Mysteries! Thrillers! Display -   Loads of people like to read mysteries, crime novels, and thrillers, but do you know the differences between them?  Mysteries follow clues to reveal the person who committed a crime.  They can be standalone or part of a series.  Dorothy Sayers is a classic example of a mystery writer with a long-running series in … Continue reading Crime! Mysteries! Thrillers! Display →
• November 2023 Book Brunch -                       November’s Book Brunch was amazing!  Jill and Julie each brought 15 books to discuss–that’s 30 new releases to add to your TBR pile!  Attendees shared an additional 20 titles that they’ve recently read and liked.  We chatted about books and enjoyed coffee and yummy … Continue reading November 2023 Book Brunch →
• “Fiction for Food Lovers” Display -   This is the time of year when food is a big part of our conversations and preparations–we’re talking about big meals we’re planning, we’re preparing what we’ll serve, we dream about our favorite holiday dishes.  What better way to celebrate our love of food then with some food-themed reading that AREN’T cookbooks.  These titles … Continue reading “Fiction for Food Lovers” Display →

Reading Resources

Author Alerts

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Bookmarked

Short videos of Library staff reviewing new and great books. Produced in association with Chelmsford Telemedia.

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