1. Determine your goal(s): Whether it’s discovering new books and/or creators, nurturing  deeper conversations around important topics, running a city-wide reading challenge or simply providing a safe space to enjoy  comics of all kinds, it’s important to establish clear goals for your book club so potential  members know what to expect. Be sure to choose a name that fits the tone you’re aiming  for. 
   
2. Who is the club for? Comics are for everyone and so are comic discussions. Comics are not just for younger audiences and a way to grow your adult patronage is to provide them with a forum to discuss stories. Many Libraries have done city wide reads based on graphic novels that saw engagement from young to old. By determining if the club is teen focused, adult focused or all-ages this will influence which titles to discuss. 
   
3. Decide what to read first: Comics Plus offers thousands of potential titles to choose from,  and our curated reading lists cover everything from Superheroes, Sci-Fi, and Spooky  Reads to Graphic Medicine, and Social & Emotional Learning. 
   
4. Decide what to read next: Build deeper engagement by asking for recommendations and  offer a few choices readers can vote on in advance. Making the selection process as  collaborative as the club conversations themselves is an excellent way to discover creators and titles already of interest to your members that can drive readers' advisory,  too. 
   

1. Leverage your website and social media platforms. 
   
1. Weekly posts of covers, panels, and links to articles and videos about relevant  creators can deepen engagement and expand your book club’s reach.  
   
2. Use marketing pieces such as library tvs, posters, flyers and monthly newsletters to bring awareness.
   
3. Share excitement about the Comics Book club with other clubs that are currently running at your library. Crossover is important to building a constant engagement with the library community.
   
4. Host follow-up discussions on platforms like Discord or Twitch.
   

1. Good moderation is a must! Establish a clear agenda and choose a moderator to guide  discussions. If using an online forum, have your discussion rules clearly defined and  posted. 
   
2. Establish clear expectations from the beginning. Give everyone a chance to share their  opinion before moving to an open discussion. Remind everyone to be respectful of each  other. Even if your book club is meant to inspire spirited debate, mutual respect for  different opinions should still be expected and enforced.
   
1. A clear and simple code of conduct will go a long way to ensuring your club is  welcoming to everyone who might be interested.

How to Run an In-Person Digital Book Club

1. What is your budget, and how many checkouts are you permitted on your digital platform?
   
2. Will you provide snacks, have members bring snacks to share, or forget refreshments?
   
3. Clearly communicate expectations to your members.
   
4. What is the best way to share updates with your members?
   
5. Decide what to read for your first meeting.
   
1. Need help? Comics Plus has numerous reading lists to choose from!
   
2. Check out these lists of exceptional graphic novel titles for all ages.
   
3. Picking future titles: You can choose titles or allow readers to bring recommendations, pitch their picks, and vote on what to read next. This becomes a very great collaborative discussion opportunity and gives members buy-in.
   
6. Understand your moderating style: Will you retain the reigns or allow members to self-regulate?

Graphic Novel Book Club Discussion Questions