Skip to main content Skip to footer

Book Groups

Lincoln City Libraries offers several Book Talk and Book Discussion Groups for adult readers. All of the groups listed below are free and open to the public. Simply drop in at one of our gatherings, or call the branch location where the meeting is taking place if you have additional questions.

Bennett Martin Public Library
136 S. 14th St. (4th Floor Auditorium)
Third Thursday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Everyone likes being read to, so why should kids have all the fun? With Adult Story Time sessions, we invite you to join us for an evening of live readings (from short stories, essays, novel fragments, poetry, play scenes, song lyrics, etc.), music with a Nebraska connection, and take-away adult coloring sheets, crafts, and reading lists.

Book Clubs and organizations now have the ability to check out the current year’s One Book One Lincoln finalists, in a special format. For each title, the Book Club in a Bag will contain 10 copies of that book as well as some starter discussion questions. Book Club in a Bag selections will be able to be checked out for 8 weeks but with no renewals. You can find out what titles are available in the Book Club in a Bag program by searching in the library catalog under Title: Book Club in a Bag. New titles will be added to this service on an annual basis.

Bethany Branch
1810 North Cotner Blvd.
Friday mornings, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
402-441-8550

Bethany BookTalks welcomes everyone for a morning of good books. Since 2001, speakers have presented a group of books, sometimes with a theme and sometimes not. These informal presentations allow for good conversation as well. The Bethany BookTalk group meets most Friday mornings, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Approximately 15-20 regular attendees.

Here's the schedule for January through May:

Date Program Description
January 5, 2024 Book Share: Bring your favorite recent reads to share with fellow group members
January 12, 2024 Book Share: Bring your favorite recent reads to share with fellow group members
January 19, 2024 Book Share: Bring your favorite recent reads to share with fellow group members
January 26, 2024 Book Share: Bring your favorite recent reads to share with fellow group members
February 2, 2024 The Anna Bemis Palmer Museum: Carrie R., former Lincoln City Libraries staff member and now curator of the Anna Bemis Palmer Museum in York, NE talks about the museum’s current exhibit
February 9, 2024 Book Share: Bring your favorite recent reads to share with fellow group members
February 16, 2024 TBA: Jen J., from the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, is today’s presenter
February 23, 2024 Karrie and Steph’s Awesome BookTalk: Karrie S. and Steph E., from the Anderson and Bethany Branch libraries, are today’s joint presenters
March 1, 2024 TBA: Marcy G., from the Gere and South Branch Libraries, is today’s presenter
March 8, 2024 TBA: Lisa V., from the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, is today’s presenter
March 15, 2024 TBA: Jodi R., from the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, is today’s presenter
March 22, 2024 TBA: Erin I., former staff member at the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, is today’s guest presenter
March 29, 2024 TBA: Debbie A., former staff member at the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, is today’s guest presenter
April 5, 2024 Scott’s Grab Bag — Spring 2024: Scott C., from the Bennett Martin Public Library, is today’s presenter
April 12, 2024 TBA: Kate K., from Eiseley and Williams Branch Libraries, is today’s presenter
April 19, 2024 TBA: Jen J., from the Bennett Martin Public Library downtown, is today’s presenter
April 26, 2024 TBA: Scott S., Librarian in the Polley Music Library, is today’s presenter
May 3, 2024 TBA: Stephanie E. and Jodi R. from the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, are today’s presenters
May 10, 2024 TBA: Nathan H., from the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, is today’s presenter
May 17, 2024 Susan’s Selections: Susan S., teen specialist from the Eiseley and Williams Branch Libraries, is today’s presenter
May 24, 2024 One Book One Lincoln: one of the librarians in charge of this year’s One Book One Lincoln will give a sneak peak of the Top 10 titles under consideration for the 2024 program
May 31, 2024 TBA: Leeanne D., from the Gere and South Branch Libraries, is today’s presenter

The B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Books) Clubs are designed for people who like to gather with fellow book-lovers to discuss whatever they’ve been reading and enjoying lately, without the pressure of assigned reading. Each meeting is “themed,” so participants can select a title that matches the monthly theme.

Bennett Martin Public Library
136 S. 14th St.
4th Floor Auditorium
Third Wednesday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
402-441-8530

Date Theme
January 17, 2024 Reading Prompt: A Book That Gives You Hope
February 21, 2024 Reading Prompt: A Favorite Book by an Author of Color
March 20, 2024 Reading Prompt: A Book You ‘Binged’ or Was ‘Unputdownable’
April 17, 2024 Reading Prompt — A Book With a Setting in the Future
May 15, 2024 Reading Prompt: What Took Me So Long? A Book You Resisted

Walt Branch Library
6701 S. 14th St.
Third Thursday of every month, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
402-441-4460

Date Program Description
January 18, 2024 Reading Prompt: A Book That Gives You Hope
February 15, 2024 Reading Prompt: A Favorite Book by an Author of Color
March 21, 2024 Reading Prompt: A Book You ‘Binged’ or Was ‘Unputdownable’
April 18, 2024 Reading Prompt: A Book With a Setting in the Future
May 16, 2024 Reading Prompt: What Took Me So Long? A Book You Resisted

Gere Branch
2400 South 56th Street
Second Wednesday each month, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
402-441-8560

Everyone is welcome at Gere’s BookTalks book discussion group! On the second Wednesday of each month this Summer, a staff member will do a 15-minute presentation of a book. Each person attending will then have the opportunity to talk about a book they recently read or a favorite book from the past. Come prepared to write down any of the books that interest you. There’s no need to sign up in advance — we’re casual, friendly and always happy to see a new face, so join us, on the following Tuesday afternoons from 2:00-3:00 p.m., and broaden your reading horizons. Approximately 5-10 regular attendees.

Date Program Description
April 10, 2024 TBA
May 8, 2024 TBA
June 5, 2024 TBA
July 3, 2024 TBA
August 6, 2024 TBA

Bennett Martin Public Library
136 S. 14th St.
4th Floor Auditorium
Last Thursday of every month, January through October, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
402-441-8530

A specific mystery novel (or author) is selected in advance for discussion during each meeting, although general discussion about mystery fiction may follow the discussion of the selected title. Since our theme is “Death and Desserts,” (i.e., the murderer got their “just desserts”), any and all participants are encouraged to bring a dessert (cookies, cake, pie, tarts, brownies, bars, cream puffs, etc.) to share with the other group members. (Decaf Coffee and juice will be provided.)

Date Program Description
February 29, 2024 The Only One Left by Riley Sager
In February, the Just Desserts group will be reading and discussing the latest best-seller from American mystery/suspense author, Riley Sager, who has had seven best-selling suspense novels published since his first in 2017. Sager’s output has been psychological suspense with a hefty dose of thriller. His latest (2023), The Only One Left, falls within that popular sub-genre.
March 28, 2024 The Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley
Participants in this month’s discussion are encouraged to read any of the first six titles in the Flavia de Luce series, and we’ll discuss them all in a broad sense.
April 25, 2024 Suspect and The Promise by Robert Crais
Group members will be looking at two of Crais's novels featuring LAPD cop Scott James and his partner Maggie.
May 30, 2024 Continuing our annual tradition, which started in 2013, our May meeting will be a “Series Share” night. We encourage all attendees to sample a new “mystery”, “suspense”, or “thriller” series, which launched in the past few years (2021 to 2024), and to come prepared to give a nutshell description of the series, the protagonist, the setting, the writing style, etc., and what your opinion is of that series.

 

(formerly The Nebraska History Book Club)
Hosted by the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors
Bennett Martin Public Library
136 S. 14th St.
4th floor Conference Room
4th Friday of most months (check our events calendar for exceptions), noon-1:00 p.m.
402-441-8516 or heritage@lincoln.ne.gov

The group for the discussion of books by Nebraska authors or with a Nebraska history theme. A specific novel, story collection or non-fiction title is selected in advance for discussion during each meeting.

Date Program Description
Friday, April 26, 2024 The title for discussion at the April meeting is Bess Street Aldrich’s classic novel, Spring Came On Forever.
Friday, May 24, 2024 The title for discussion at the May meeting is Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak.
Friday, June 28, 2024 Poetry - bring your favorite poem to share!
Friday, July 26, 2024 The Home Place by Wright Morris
Friday, August 23, 2024 The Lost Boys of Omaha by Joe Sexton

 

Eiseley Branch
1530 Superior Street
2nd Tuesday of every month, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
402-441-4250

Do you love true crime and local mysteries? Join us for all things criminal the second Tuesday of every month to discuss current crime obsessions and indulge your darker reading interests. There will not be assigned reading for this program. Instead, Library staff will regale you with tales of murder, thievery and other “true crimes” on an assigned topic, and attendees will be invited to share what they have enjoyed in that reading genre.

Date Topic
January 9, 2024 Heists
February 13, 2024 Kidnappings
March 12, 2024 Irish Crimes
April 9, 2024 Investments Gone Bad: Corporate Crimes
May 14, 2024 Royal Blood: Royal Crimes

 

Contact Us

Lincoln City Libraries
136 South 14th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
402-441-8500

This website uses cookies to enhance usability and provide you with a more personal experience. By using this website, you agree to our use of cookies as explained in our Privacy Statement.