Peterborough Library Director Corinne Chronopoulos knows that people are busy. She happens to be one of them
And even though the library already offers four book clubs, she felt there was a need to appeal to those who just don’t have time to sit down and read a book cover to cover in one month.
So Chronopoulos is starting The Short on Time Club, which will meet for the first time on Jan. 9. It’s designed for the busy, and doesn’t actually include books. Each month Chronopoulos will pull together a set of three of four articles about a topic of interest. Kicking off the club is artificial intelligence with “Alexa, How Will You Change Us?” in The Atlantic last month, “The Rise of Illiberal Artificial Intelligence” from National Review in August, Popular Science’s “Breakout” and a Cornell University paper about AI.
“It can be driven by current events or driven by when the group comes together and talks,” Chronopoulos said. “It just needs to be fun, not just heavy topics.”
People can pick up the articles at the library at any point before the meet-up at noon on the second Wednesday of the month or email Library@PeterboroughNH.gov for an electronic copy. Then just read the articles and be prepared to discuss. Bring your lunch and expect a half hour to an hour of lively conversation.
Chronopoulos said that most people, herself included, tend to only have time to read what they like. Because this will hopefully help broaden horizons about topics and actually allow for members to learn about something new.
“It’s good to challenge yourself to read out of what you like,” Chronopoulos said. “And this is something you can actually bite off and not a whole book to get through.”
So far, about a dozen people have either picked up or requested the articles, and Chronopoulos sees an ability to grow.
Chronopoulos took an online course for how to run a great book club and an article-based club was mentioned. She will take suggestions for upcoming meet-ups, but also has ideas for what she wants the club to look like over the next year.
“One of the good things about it, is that it will be curated by a librarian,” Chronopoulos said. “It’s part of the skill set for a librarian.”
For more, visit PeterboroughTownLibrary.org or call 924-8040.