Book Clubs

Townsville Citylibraries supports registered book clubs by providing over 120 book club sets (6–12 copies each), six week loans, easy online bookings, and free meeting rooms. Many titles are also available as eBooks and eAudiobooks.

Discover the full range of book clubs sets in our online catalogue.

For more clubs, including local, online and interstate clubs, explore:

• Book clubs around Australia by Australia Reads: A growing list of book clubs and reading communities from across the country.
• FALS Book Club: The Foundation for Australian Literary Studies (FALS) is based at James Cook University and aims to foster the study and appreciation of Australian literature.
• Libby Reads with Ben Hobson: A free monthly digital book club hosted by author Ben Hobson. Citylibraries members can borrow the featured title in the Libby app with no waitlists, then join the live author talk each month. To connect with fellow readers head to the Facebook group.
• The Australia Institute – Australia's Biggest Book Club: Each month, The Australia Institute hosts a live webinar featuring a new non-fiction title and its author.
• Tough Guy Book Club: A network of men’s book clubs in local pubs. “We're about reading books, hitting the pub with the goons, and rowdy conversations. Our club is about putting real decent conversations back in the pub”.

A book club is a space where people come together regularly to read and discuss books.

By joining a book club, you’ll have the opportunity to:

• meet new people who share your interest in reading
• discover new authors and genres you might not have chosen on your own
• stay motivated to read and explore a wider range of books
• engage in meaningful discussions that deepen your understanding and enjoyment of each book
• be part of a community that values thoughtful conversation and shared learning.

Any Townsville Citylibraries member aged 18 or over can register a book club and borrow book club sets.

All participants using the book club service must hold a current Citylibraries membership.

We recommend a minimum of 4 members to encourage engaging and meaningful discussions. Our book club sets have an average of 8-10 copies, so please keep this in mind when planning your group size.

If your club has more than 10 members, additional participants are welcome to borrow a general copy using their personal library membership. Many book club titles are also available in our general lending collection, making it easy for everyone to access a copy.

Whole sets and individual copies can be returned early, but please ensure the full set is returned by its due date. Late returns may affect other clubs’ bookings.

Please contact us as soon as possible. Replacement costs may apply; staff will guide you through the process.

Please email staff at libraryexperiences@townsville.qld.gov.au so we can update our records and cancel any future bookings.

Library staff will reach out and invite book clubs to suggest new titles for our collection updates. Book Club coordinators will receive an email notification when the suggestion period is open.

While we cannot guarantee your suggestion will be purchased, your input helps shape a collection that continues to inspire and engage our community of readers.

Yes. The High School Book Club is a monthly program created for high-school aged students who enjoy reading and want to connect with others. Each session includes reading time, group discussion, and a creative activity or craft.

No bookings are required. Supervising adults must remain in branch during the session. For upcoming dates and locations, please visit What's On Townsville.