This week sort of by accident I started a book club with one of the schools I work with. I received books from firstbook.org and gave one to a student. I thought she would like the book and didn’t really think anything of it. She then began reading it and was totally engrossed. One of her friends came into the library and she shared the book with her. I gave this student her own copy and told her to add it to her personal library (this is one important stipulation with firstbook you have to give all the books away to students they can not become a part of the library collection). After the second student left with book in tow another student came in and was given the book. Now I had three students and myself reading the book in less than an hour from opening the box. Great, but how were we going to keep the momentum going and check-in in with each other. Shelfari and Tumblr to the rescue. At first one of the students wanted to use Facebook but it is blocked in our school I immediately thought of Tumblr but was also put on to Shelfari from the discussion board. I am eagerly looking forward to this book group growing. I think especially with our students begin so busy with testing and assignment this will make it much easier than meeting face2face. I always felt pressed for time in regard to beginning a book club with our students but now I see that web 2.0 tools can help with that. Hopefully I will be able to start more than one book club this year. And hey maybe they can do a digital book talk of the book once they are done!
