How are we going to collect our book now the meetings are held at the Michael House?

When it is your turn to order the books, this should be done by phoning, emailing or going in person to the Rock Road Library. Going in person is the most reliable method as this will ensure there is no mixup. Please state the date of the next meeting and ask the books (usually 9 copies, plus 1 Large Print book and 1 audio version), to be made available for us to pick up on the day, or the working day before.  Generally the person putting forward the selected book will need to collect all the books, bring them to the meeting, and return all the books in question.  If this is not possible then this person should ask for volunteers to stop off at the library and pick up as many copies as they can carry and bring them to the meeting at The Michael House.  If this is not possible, each member will need to pop into the library and collect their reserved copy.

Whoever collects books for the group should renew them to a date at least a week after the following group meeting (i.e. middle of following month).  This will ensure that we are not fined for late returns. In theory the library should automatically stamp our books six weeks ahead, but sometimes they forget. Do check the date stamped is correct.

Whoever takes back books after a group meeting should check if they have old copies in the library’s cubby hole (i.e. under the counter) and, if so, get them checked in and returned to stock.

To ensure that the library can keep track of who has which book, the person organising the books for the meeting should also bring along a blank piece of paper and write down, the name and author of the book, the date of the meeting, the barcode number of the book and the recipient. This list should be returned to the library and given to the librarians to put in our special folder. This way, if a book is not returned, the person holding the copy can be identified.
 

Where exactly is the location of the meeting room at The Michael House?

The Michael House is a church building which has been converted into a Cafe. Enter the Cafe and walk along past the serving counter to the door on the left marked ‘WC/Toilets’. Open the door and follow the corridor right to the end and open the door right at the end of the corridor. The reading group meeting is held in a nice meeting room through this end door.  It has a round table set up and can accommodate 10 or so and will be cosy. We can also purchase drinks at the Cafe, and take them into the meeting room, if we wish. There is also a water dispenser and glasses on the right before you pass through the door to the long corridor.  Do pick up a glass for yourself if you wish.

What is the format of the meeting?

The format of the meetings at The Michael House is slightly more relaxed than those held at the Road Rock Library, due to the fact that the timeframe has been extended to be 2 hours - 2:00PM to 4:00PM.  The formal part of the meeting and discussion of the selected book will be held, as previously, from 2:30PM to 3:30PM. The half hour before and after the meeting has been reserved for friendly chats, discussion of ideas, and administration of the group.  Members are welcome for the full 2 hour period, or just for the book discussion hour - it is up to your own personal preference.

What do I have to do if it is my turn to provide a book selection?

A rota is established 12 months ahead. See the ‘Events Calendar’ page on this website for rota details.

The person providing the book selections should have ready brief resumes of 3 books we could discuss at the meeting two months ahead. At least 1 book needs to be from the Booker Man or Orange Prize List of any year. The other book(s) can be any desired book from any time period. The selector does not have to have read any of the books. If it is possible the selector should email these 3 resumes to the group webmaster, so that they can be posted on the Suggestions page of the website and posted by snailmail to members who don’t have email. This is done before the meeting to give people a chance to do their own investigations before making a decision on how to vote.

At the meeting, the selector should give brief details, or a summary of each book. Then there will be a vote by the members on which 1 of the books will be selected to be read. Sometimes, by agreement, 2 books may be selected.

The selector will need to have done some research on how many copies of each selected book is held by the Library. If enough are held by the Library the selector should order the required number of the selected book, then and there at the Library.  If not enough, or none are held, arrangements can be made at the meeting for members to purchase their own copies and perhaps share them amongst the group if needed.

Please note: On the rota, the person whose book is being discussed at the meeting is also scheduled to be doing the Afternoon Tea for that meeting.

What do I have to do if it is my turn for Afternoon Tea?

At The Michael House : Afternoon teas are done on a rota basis (see the Events Calendar). When meetings are held at The Michael House, beverages can be purchase at the Cafe at The Michael House. The person who’s turn it is to bring afternoon tea is expected to provide a packet of biscuits.

At the Rock Road Library: If the meeting is held at the Rock Road Library, and it is your turn, please bring a small packet of biscuits, nothing too elaborate.  Also we will need a small carton of milk or enough milk for about 8 people’s tea, two tea bags per pot (we usually have two pots!) and a couple of teaspoons of sugar. There is a tea room at the back of the library with an electric jug. Fill the jug with water when you arrive and bring it to boil. There is a tea pot supplied. Use 2 tea bags and let the tea stand in the pot for about 2 minutes. The library supplies us with a tray and 8 cups and saucers. Pour the tea out into each cup and take to the meeting area, on the tray, with the biscuits, milk, sugar and spoons. After the meeting has closed, please wash and dry the tea cups, saucers, spoons and tea pot.