While they can’t prove the claim in its name, the people behind the World’s Easiest Book Club at Hart House Library are confident that it’s as stress-free as a literary club can be.
Launched last winter by library volunteers and former curator David Sprague, the club aims to ensure the library remains a readers’ space, not just a study space. The concept is simple: the book of the month – always a quick read, like a graphic novel – sits at the library’s entrance with a sign bearing the club’s name. Visitors or passersby read it in the library, then put a sticker on the sign next to a rating of one to four stars. Done.
About 30 people take part each month, and most ratings are three and four stars. The most recent book was Soppy by Philippa Rice.
“The idea is to make people feel the least amount of pressure, but still a part of something,” says current curator Andreea Marin. “It also gets them using the library’s collection and revives reading for fun.”
Interested in learning more? Check out Hart House’s blog post about the book club.
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