Even if young people are taking the lead role in running the group, it might be useful for you to have some ideas to get things started
Children and young people can be shy when they don’t know each other and it’s important that they go away from the first session feeling comfortable and like they’ve had an enjoyable time
Try ice-breaking activities and tasks that everyone can get involved in. One idea might be to put lots of books on the floor and ask everyone to pick up a book that they’d like to read and one that they wouldn’t be interested, just from looking at the cover. This can keep people talking for ages, defending their choices and sharing their passions with each other
Make sure you have good refreshments. Squash and biscuits might be enough for young children but consider more adult snacks such as tortilla chips and coke for older young people
Encourage the group to leave with a book to read and a plan for what’s going to happen in the next session
Discuss how the group is going to run and whether you need ground rules such as ‘one person talking at a time’. Let young people set their own ground rules rather than imposing them on them
Make a plan for the next few sessions in advance in conjunction with the young people
Consider using name badges for younger children and ice-breaking name activities for teenagers

Tips for subsequent sessions

Allow children and young people to set the agenda for the format of the groups. These can vary dramatically from library to library. Some things you might want to include are:

An opportunity to talk about the chosen book/s
An opportunity to talk about other books that have been read between sessions
Some free time to chat about other things
Time to contribute reviews to the reading group noticeboard or library website
Book quizzes and games such as Pictionary
Arts, craft or creative writing activities

Young people in Bedfordshire groups (Word, 67kb) regularly contribute to the ‘teen turf’ website as part of their reading group activity.
Young people in Sedgefield (Word, 51.9kb) have made Story Sacks for children in Russia as part of their reading group.

Try to make sure that everyone has a chance to contribute but remember that people who are very quiet may be perfectly happy to say nothing for the first few weeks. Gently encourage them to say a few words but don’t pressure them.

'Trigger' questions to get people thinking and talking

How did you feel about the book when you'd finished it?
Where were you when you read it?
Did the cover make you want to read it?
Did it grip you right from the start?
Did you want to read it right to the end?
What was the thing you most liked finding out from this book?
Which character did you like best and why?
Was there any character you really didn't like? – why not?
Have you read any other books by this author/in this series? Which?
If not, has this book encouraged you to read more by him/her?
If you gave up on this book, can you say why?

Several groups include special events and activities in their meeting programme - like trips to bookshops (choosing new books for the library), the cinema (comparing the book with the film), or setting up their own group's book awards - like Bournemouth Chatterbooks' BOSCARs! (Word, 333kb)

You're bound to think of lots more reading group ideas, so do post them up for everyone in TRF Coffee Break, the online discussion forum, or submit them for sharing through this best practice centre.

And have a look at the Reading Groups Scenario in the e-learning centre for more ideas about encouraging people to join in a group session.