Expanding Library Programs to Meet Community Interest

Prince William Public Libraries staff is always curious about how they can enhance programming throughout its 12 branches. Haymarket Gainesville Library staff has been requesting feedback from its patrons and spent 2022 expanding its programs, specifically its book clubs.

Programming went through a transition during the height of the pandemic. While not all programs were offered in-person during that first summer and into fall 2020, many programs integrated virtual programming as a new method of ongoing service. Now that the library has been open to the public for some time now, Prince William Public Libraries offers book clubs both in-person and virtually to meet the interests of patrons. Here are some highlights of Haymarket Gainesville Library book clubs and others throughout the county and the City of Manassas.

Books on Tap is a good book club for readers who have a broad interest in books and want to discuss them over tasty food and drink! Book on Tap meets in person at four local breweries: Brew Republic Bierwerks, Ornery Beer Company, Sinistral Brewing Company, and Tucked Away Brewing Company. While the library does not cover food and drink expenses, it does provide free copies of the book of the host’s choosing. The book choices cover all genres – one month, you might read a cozy mystery and a high fantasy the following month.

For the Love of Reading is a romance book club. It meets virtually every third Wednesday and leaves no sub-romance genre out. Readers will explore gothic, fantasy, thriller, and other romance genres in print or as an e-book or audiobook. If you like to read about love from the comfort of home, this is the club for you.

The Horror Fiction Book Club lives up to its name. Lovers of horror or those interested will read everything from intense horror, and some will be a little tamer, so readers beware! You’ll be in for a chillingly good time. This club meets virtually on the final Monday of every month.

The Page Turners is for readers who enjoy thrillers. It meets in person at Haymarket Gainesville Library on the fourth Wednesday of the month and leaves no thriller sub-genre ignored.

All books chosen by the book club hosts are available through the library. Give any book club a try if you want to meet with and discuss books with other people.

Written by Alexa Hall, Haymarket Gainesville Library Staff