 DonateInterested in joining a book group? Arlington has many to choose from! In the weeks leading up to each meeting, copies of the books will be available for checkout at the circulation desk at Robbins. You can also request books through the library catalog.
Find meeting information and our book group guidelines below.
Name: Revolutionary Readers Book Group
Meets: 7pm Tuesdays every other month
Leader/contact: Steven Prochet ([email protected] or 781-316-3218)
Group statement: Special limited edition book group in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy. We read non-fiction history books related to events and topics about the American Revolution. We meet every other month from February 2025-June 2026.
Upcoming meetings: American inheritance: liberty and slavery in the birth of a nation, 1765-1795 by Edward J. Larson, June 23.
Name: Fox Library Book Group
Meets: 7:30pm the second Wednesday of each month
Leader/contact: Bob Schueler ([email protected])
Group statement: Join us for friendly, informal conversation. Our selections are readable, neither too long nor too dense, and are a mix of fiction and non-fiction. Our non-fiction titles tend toward science, technology, history, and social justice; fiction tends toward mystery, suspense, and literary.
Upcoming meetings: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, May 13
Name: Monday Night Book Group
Meets: 7pm the first Monday of each month
Leader/contact: Therese Henderson ([email protected])
Group statement: The longest-running of all of these book groups, this one has been meeting since January 1994. Members may recommend up to four titles per year, and the facilitator determines the final selections. This group reads a blend of fiction and nonfiction with a variety of themes. See their website for more info.
Upcoming meetings: Normal People by Sally Rooney, May 11; Erasure by Percival Everett, June 1
Name: Queer Book Group (QBG)
Meets: Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm, every other month, on the last Wednesday.
Leader/contact: Julia Starkey ([email protected])
Group statement: Read some great LGBTQ-themed books (fiction and non-fiction), make some new friends, and expand your community!
Upcoming meetings: Woodworking by Emily St. James, May 27
Name: Cookbook Club
Meets: Mondays 6:30-8pm
Leader/contact: Linda Dyndiuk ([email protected])
Group statement: Each meeting, every participant will prepare a different recipe from the same book (copies of the book for each meeting can be checked out at the circulation desk), and we’ll all discuss while we taste! This group is open to all, but registration is limited. You must register to attend. See the Cookbook Club page for more information.
Upcoming meetings: I Dream of Dinner (so you don’t have to) by Ali Slagle and The Cookie That Changed My Life by Nancy Silverton, May 11; Milk Street Tuesday Nights Mediterranean and Milk Street Bakes both by Christopher Kimball, June 15
Name: Science Book Club
Meets: Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM every other month.
Leader/Contact: [email protected]
Group Statement: Dedicated to reading and discussing books about science and the many different disciplines and topics it encompasses. Learn more about the group from their website and sign up to be on the mailing list for meeting announcements by writing to [email protected].
Upcoming meetings:The Triumph of Seeds by Thor Hansen, June 4
Name: Speculative Fiction Book Group
Meets: Monday evenings at 7:00 PM every other month.
Leader/Contact: Verónica ([email protected], 781-316-3220)
Group Statement: Join us to discuss science fiction, fantasy, and alternate reality books! We meet every other month, so mark your calendars!
Upcoming meetings: The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett, June 29
Name: The Alibi True Crime Book Group
Meets: Monday evenings at 7:00 PM / Quarterly
Leader/Contact: Verónica ([email protected], 781-316-3220)
Group Statement: Join our quarterly true crime book group!
Upcoming meetings: The map thief: the gripping story of an esteemed rare-map dealer who made millions stealing priceless maps by Michael Blanding, April 27
Book Group Guidelines
We created the following guidelines in order to conduct successful book group meetings while at the same time fostering a welcoming environment for all participants. In the event that a group member fails to follow these, the group moderator has permission to arrange a meeting with the individual and/or work with the Library Director to remove attendance privileges temporarily or permanently.
The guidelines adhere to library policies, specifically the patron conduct policy.
- This is a book group – we can have fun!
- If you didn’t finish the book, that’s ok!
- Please listen to everybody’s comments.
- Be respectful, especially when listening to or offering a different opinion.
- Everyone will get a chance to speak.
- Not everyone will like all the book choices and that’s ok!
- Stay on topic.
- Allow others to share their input by not monopolizing the conversation.
- Refrain from making comments that are overtly judgmental of any one group based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender, etc.
- Inappropriate behavior and/or language will not be tolerated.