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.

 

Date Theme
October 16, 2025 Scary Stories, the Unexplained, and Horror!
November 20, 2025 Authors We Are Thankful For!
December 18, 2025 Books We'd Love to Give as Gifts

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 BookTalks group meets most Friday mornings, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Bethany BookChats (held June through August, and December) are informal discussions about what the participants have been reading recently. 

Date Program Description
October 17, 2025 For the Love of Scotland. Jen is back with mysteries, romances and historical fiction all centered around this part of the world.
October 24, 2025 Frankenstein, Dracula, Jekyll and Hyde! You’ve heard of them; maybe even read the books. Victoria will talk about a variety of monstrous retellings!
October 31, 2025 There’s nothing scary about this Halloween talk, except maybe Jodi’s vast knowledge of these Booker long-list nominees.
November 7, 2025 Scott's Fall 2025 Grab Bag - a summary of what he's enjoyed reading, listening to, and watching in the past six months.
November 14, 2025 Laurie and Courtney will discuss titles set during and about Medieval Times and tell you all about LCL's upcoming RenFaire on Dec. 6th.
November 21, 2025 Susan will be bringing her usual mixed bag of recent reads, including young adult, fantasy, science fiction and even a graphic novel or two.
November 28, 2025 No session this week - closed for the Thanksgiving holiday

 

The B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Books) Club is 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 (except as noted), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
402-441-8530

Date Theme
October 15, 2025 Reading Prompt: a book (or books) that gave you nightmares.
November 19, 2025 Reading Prompt: a book (or books) with a number in the title. 
December 17, 2025 Reader's Choice! Share your favorites from the last year or just something you think others will enjoy.

 

Gere Branch
2400 South 56th Street
First Monday of each month, 2:00-3:00 p.m. (subject to change)
402-441-8560

Gere Book Talks are happening! Please join us on the first Monday of each month from 2:00-3:00 p.m. at Gere for a casual book discussion group. You don't need to read a specific book or have anything particular prepared. A library staff member will start off the group by talking about something they've been reading and find interesting, then each group member will have an opportunity to tell the group about something they are reading. Don't want to talk? That's fine - come and listen! This is a spectacular opportunity to get ideas for books you may not already know about, and to spread the word about books you love.

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. After the discussion, attendees may share a round robin of whatever else they've been reading in the past month (emphasizing mysteries). 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
October 30, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to read ANY of the 27 thrillers written by Robert Ludlum (1927-2001) and share their thoughts on the title(s) they sampled. 

 

(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
October 24, 2025 One False Move by Alex Kava
November 20, 2025 Warm for Christmas by George Ayoub

 

Eiseley Branch
1530 Superior Street
2nd Wednesday 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 Wednesday of every month (except as noted) 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
November 12, 2025 Family Ties
No meeting in December
January 14, 2026 Killer Women
February 11, 2026 Crimes of Passion
March 11, 2026 19th Century Crimes
April 8, 2026 Hollywood Homicides
May 13, 2026 Medical Malpractice
June 10, 2026 Crimes Against History
July 8, 2026 Maritime Crimes
No meeting in August
September 9, 2026 Campus Crimes
October 14, 2026 Cornhusker Crimes
No meeting in November or December

 

Gere Branch
2400 South 56th Street
Third Monday of each month, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
402-441-8560

This program explores movies based on stories in our collection. Attendees are encouraged but not required to read the book before we watch the film. Refreshments will be provided.

Date Movie
TBD TBD

Gere Branch
2400 South 56th Street
Second Wednesday of each month (except as noted), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
402-441-8560

Do you miss the chills and thrills of spooky season? Do you long to be haunted year-round? Then join us once a month for a ghoulishly-good book club where we will discuss creepy characters and petrifying plot twists!

Date Program Theme
November 12, 2025 Fractured Fairy Tales
December 10, 2025 Horrible Holidays
January 14, 2026 New Year, Ancient Evil
February 11, 2026 Romance is Dead

Gere Branch
2400 South 56th Street
First Monday of each month (second Monday if the first Monday is a holiday), 6:30-7:30 p.m.
402-441-8560

Do you love talking about what you've read, but don't have a lot of reading time? Are you interested in speculative fiction and other non-mimetic genres? Join us for lively discussion about intriguing (and less-time-intensive!) reads. Registration is preferred, but drop-ins are welcome. Registrants will receive a reading list in advance.

Walt Branch
6701 South 14th Street
Third Wednesday of each month, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
402-441-4460

Enjoy refreshments from The Mill, a book swap and peace to read in silence.

Eiseley Branch
1530 Superior Street
2nd Tuesday of the month, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Changing to the 2nd Wednesday of the month in October, 2025
402-441-4250

Can't get enough true crime podcasts and documentaries? Join us to deep dive True Crime in books! We'll explore topics such as crimes of the past, restorative justice, and more. Bring your favorite stories to share and get ready to discuss all things criminal.

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Contact Us

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

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