Book clubs are experiencing a resurgence across the country, with a 24% increase in their event listings on Eventbrite from 2022 to 2023 and a 10% rise in activity reported by Meetup in 2023. This national trend reflects what’s happening right here in Centre County, where both newly formed book clubs and those long-established continue to bring people together.
Whether through long-standing gatherings or newly formed groups, Centre County’s book clubs prove that reading is more than just a solitary activity. It’s a way to build friendships, foster connections, and strengthen communities.
The Bellefonte Centre County Library’s Wednesday Book Club, which has been bringing readers together for nearly 20 years, is a perfect example. Originally an in-person gathering, the club transitioned online during the COVID-19 pandemic when, after a short programming break, Assistant Branch Manager Ashley Hoover got it up and running again virtually.
“We ended up keeping it virtual because some members had moved away or lived further away to begin with,” shares Hoover. “It’s a nice way to stay connected.” Hoover noted that over the years, members have joined from as far away as Florida, Massachusetts, and Idaho.
Also run out of the library in Bellefonte is a more casual take on a book club, where attendees chat freely about books they’ve been reading lately. The Book Lovers Coffee Hour began at the library in 2019, but also transitioned to virtual gatherings on the first Saturday of the month.
While virtual meetings offer flexibility and connection with readers beyond Bellefonte, requests for in-person gatherings led Hoover to launch Mystery Book Club: Booked for Murder in 2023, which meets on third Thursdays at the Centre County Library. Hoover, a mystery aficionado herself, says, “Some people who join love mysteries, and some just want a chance to meet and discuss books they wouldn’t normally choose for themselves.”
Mystery lovers have multiple options for book discussions across Centre County. At the Centre Hall Area Branch Library, Branch Manager Kathleen Edwards also launched a Mystery Book Club a few years ago at a patron’s suggestion. The group meets on second Thursdays in the library and attracts a wide range of ages to discuss everything from Agatha Christie classics to recent Ruth Ware thrillers. Edwards’ favorite thing about hosting the book club is “seeing people come together in the library and make connections with each other.” While Mystery Book Club has a core group of regulars, new members drop in each month. Edwards has even seen some members form lasting friendships.
In Philipsburg, Holt Memorial Library hosts the Afternoon Book Club, organized by Branch Manager Theresa Hutton. This group meets the first Wednesday of the month, attracting 10 to 14 members each month, mostly retirees, who enjoy discussing a variety of genres. This group has grown since the pandemic, with new members joining after being invited via flyers or at the circulation desk. “It’s a great way for the community to gather, enjoy literacy, and discuss and find new genres,” Hutton shares. Some Holt Memorial Library book club members have become involved with the Friends of the Library nonprofit, extending their community impact.
The Centre County library network supports these clubs through resources like interlibrary loans and book discussion kits, which ensure that members have access to monthly selections. Programs like Centre County Reads (which encourages residents of all ages to read and discuss the same book) also foster shared literary experiences across the region.
Schlow Centre Region Library offers a variety of book clubs for different interests. The Tuesday Book Club, which meets on the third Tuesday of each month, focuses on literary fiction and award-winning books. Another group, the Centre Region Active Adult Center Book Club, for those 55 and older, meets at the Nittany Mall on the second Wednesday of the month to discuss bestselling fiction and mysteries. For those who prefer a virtual gathering, the Well-Read Book Club meets on fourth Thursdays, discussing critically acclaimed and award-winning fiction and nonfiction literature.
Beyond the Centre County Library ecosystem and Schlow Library, independent book clubs meet regularly across the county. The LGBTQA Book Club began in February 2019 when founder Neill Johnson was inspired by a similar club. “[My friend] in Nashville, Tennessee, shared with me a book that his gay book club had read,” Johnson says. “I read it and liked it so much that I thought, ‘I would really enjoy having a group like this in Centre County.’”
The club meets on the last Sunday of each month and has become a predominantly gay men’s book club, though members of other identities occasionally make an appearance. LGBTQA Book Club selections range from contemporary works like “Detransition, Baby”by Torrey Peters to classic literature like “Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit”by Jeanette Winterson.
During the pandemic, the LGBTQA Book Club began meeting virtually via Zoom, later transitioning to hybrid meetings held outdoors. Today, the group meets in a community room at one member’s apartment building. Membership spans individuals in their 20s to 80s, which Johnson feels is an advantage. In this club, members share the role of selecting books and leading discussions. Those interested in joining can email Johnson at robnj62@aol.com for details and a complete list of previously read books.
Another independently organized group is the East Penns Valley Library Book Club, which has been meeting for at least 12 years. The group has evolved over the years but remains committed to lively discussions and their shared love of reading. The EPVL Book Club reads a wide variety of books — including fiction, non-fiction, mysteries, biographies, and historical fiction — sourcing copies through the Centre Hall Library and utilizing book discussion kits through Schlow Centre Region Library and interlibrary loans. Organizer Mary T. Hosterman explains that when book kits contain fewer than eight copies, members make do with the copies they have: “Most of us are fast readers,” she notes.
The EPVL Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Millheim’s Pisano Winery, which provides a convenient, accessible, and welcoming space for the club’s nine members, whom Hosterman says are “nine retired, socially active, professional women” from fields including health care, education, and law. In her role, Hosterman coordinates book pickups, sends reminders, and maintains contact with the Centre Hall library branch.
Hosterman shares that she has come to value deeply the connections made through the EPVL Book Club. “These women are so insightful, interesting, and compassionate,” she remarks. “We begin each meeting discussing the book and how it relates to our lives; then we keep on talking. We usually hate to see the end of our meetings and often stay longer than the hour we had planned.”
In contrast to the EPVL Book Club, which has been active in Centre County for generations, a new book club founded by and for teenagers is taking shape out of The Print Factory in Bellefonte. This club began when its founder, a Bellefonte Area High School sophomore, noticed a lack of book clubs in the area for teenagers. They shared: “I really wanted a group I could read with and connect with over a good book.” Meeting every other Saturday, the club plans to read and discuss fantasy books, the current read being “Truth and Other Lies”by Lyra Wolf. In discussing potential future reads, the founder shared that they put up a request box for group members and patrons to make suggestions, but they also hope to revisit some of their personal favorite books, including “Lord of the Rings,” while building connections with other young readers.
According to its website, The Print Factory also hosts a general monthly book club, meeting every third Saturday afternoon.
All book club leaders interviewed for this article echo a similar point: These groups have a unique ability to bring people together and foster collaboration. Some clubs rely on local libraries for book discussion bags, ensuring that members have access to monthly reads, while libraries themselves support one another through interlibrary loans. Virtual meetings allow readers to expand their network beyond the county — and sometimes even the state — connecting with fellow book lovers near and far. And beyond books, these clubs often spark deep connections and long-term friendships, proving that reading is as much about community as it is about the stories on the page.
Ashley Hoover of the Centre County Library’s Bellefonte branch paraphrases a metaphor by Rudine Sims Bishop, Ohio State professor emerita of education, which many libraries use to depict the cultural significance of reading: “Books can be windows, mirrors, or sliding glass doors,” Hoover explains. “Through a window, we can look into other worlds or experience. Sliding glass doors allow us to immerse ourselves into those experiences, and mirrors reflect our own experiences back to us.
“Book clubs take that metaphor further,” Hoover continues. “They bring people together to share experiences and interpretations. You get more out of the book and build a sense of community.” T&G
Jules Slater is a freelance writer in State College who is currently reading “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin.
