Chris Garnsworthy from Hackney Community Library Service tells us about how they set up and run their Telephone Reading Group and the difference it is making to people’s lives:
The idea of Hackney’s Telephone Book Club is simply to allow housebound people to participate in a traditional book club that would otherwise be unreachable. The reading group runs on a conference call basis with participants discussing a pre-selected book chosen by the group. Members join each group session one by one, introduced by the phone switchboard operator. The telephone calls are free and last for an hour, facilitated by a member of library staff and a representative from the RSVP charity, who work in partnership with Hackney Community Library Service to run the group.
The group meets every 6 weeks to allow time to gather copies of the books in the different formats and there can be up to 8 people can be on each session on the phone in their own home.
The group has evolved and look to innovate along the way. Early fears around bringing together housebound individuals of varying ages, 28 – 100 years, from across Hackney’s diverse borough and then ask them to talk about books and gel as a group purely through the power of voice, were dispelled fairly quickly as the books became the bonding thread. To reflect different tastes, the groups early choices were Mark Hadden’s Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Alan Titchmarsh’s The Last Lighthouse Keeper, Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses and Ruth Rendell’s Adam and Eve and Pinch me.
Lessening isolation
The partnership with RSVP works well and is achieving results we could not have dreamt about when we had our initial discussions on how best to move forward. The group has flourished with members telling us of feeling part of the wider library community, enjoying the mental stimulation of reading then discussing the books, giving something to look forward to and enjoying the contact with staff and other housebound residents. Group members have become firm friends and been given an interest that has considerably lessened their isolation in the community.
Putting faces to voices
Such was the enthusiasm from the Telephone Reading Group members to meet and put characters and faces to the voices, we tentatively organised a coffee morning. We were worried that meeting might have a negative effect on the group if it didn’t go well. We overcame transportation difficulties to bring everyone together at Stoke Newington Library. The traditional quiet of the library environment was shattered by the hubbub and laughter that came from the meeting room. Dial-a-ride drivers were sent away at collection time because no-one wanted to go home and the meeting over-ran by an hour. Our fears were unfounded. A new impetus for the group had been established and even more value had been unearthed for the participants.
Authors taking part
An innovative and successful addition to the Telephone Book Club schedule was inviting authors to participate in the discussion of their own novels. Crime writer Dan Waddell joined us to discuss The Blood Detective and a lively hour ensued with Dan enthusiastically answering all the questions that were fired at him. Some members found parts of the book too gruesome but Dan was able to explain why he felt that was necessary to the story, even revealing that his mother-in-law was shocked when she first read it too. Historical fiction writer Vanora Bennett has joined us since and we have had offers from other authors willing to give their time in the future.
Making a difference
Funding is important for RSVP to maintain and develop their support of the reading group and we were delighted when The Times singled out our work as part of The Times Christmas Appeal 2010. Alyson Rudd, their book editor, joined us in a book club session. This caused tremendous excitement among the group and Alyson was so taken with the group that she attended our next coffee morning.
At the end of the telephone session Alyson joined, she asked the group what it meant it to them. We were overwhelmed as each participant spoke passionately about their enjoyment, how much they looked forward to the group sessions and the friends they had made, but, when looking at how we have changed lives, it was one simple thing that really stood out as a powerful image for me. Evelyn who is disabled and lives alone in a house in Stamford Hill said “It has given me something special back in my life. When my family were at home and there was noise all around me I used to tell them about what I was reading, share the funny bits and seek comfort when reading sad things. The house became quiet and I had no-one to share these things with. The telephone reading group has given me those pleasures back.”
Hackney Libraries Telephone Reading Group has been national news, won an award at the RSVP conference and been a big story for us in Hackney Libraries but it’s the opportunity it gives people like Evelyn to be involved in the joy of a book club and get such a valuable addition to their lives that really makes the whole thing worthwhile.
Get involved
Find out about Scottish Libraries’ visual impairment reading groups in libraries.
Do you have a story to tell about your reading group? Do get in touch we’d love to hear it.
