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An online book discussion forum is the latest venture from the triborough library services in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham.
The scheme will be launched on November 6th at Kensington Central Library with an event with author Mark Billingham, whose crime novel Sleepyhead (Little, Brown) will be the first title up for discussion. The publisher has already given away 120 copies of the novel to get readers prepared.
Text Tribe is aimed at adult readers with the key title changing every one to two months, and has been set up with the three local councils, working alongside the Reading Agency and the Arts Council’s Digital Skills Sharing Project.
Westminster City Council’s cabinet member for community services, Cllr Lee Rowley, said: “A lot of Londoners are so busy they scarcely have time to read a book, let alone put regular time aside for attending a book group meeting. So we’re hoping this new online forum will encourage Londoners to read more while better reflecting their busy lives and increased use of technology.”
Billingham added: “Reading groups are a hugely important way to spread the word about books and to share the pleasure of a good read with others. New technologies and the rise of social media gives us more scope to reach wider audiences, allowing us to enjoy the simple pleasure of talking about books with like-minded friends, no matter the time or place.”