- Sophomores Andrea Rathje and Regan Romuno enjoy snacks and socialize with the others at their table as they decide which books to read for the month.
This year the shirts are purple and their membership numbers might be down a bit because of an assortment of other school activities that also got off to an early start, but the enthusiasm of those who showed up Wednesday, Sept. 4, for the club’s first meeting was evident.
Since last year’s officers were all seniors, Leigh Anne Hanie and Lela Crowder, book club sponsors, started by introducing the new officers: Kristin Higginbotham, president; Matthew Prellberg, vice president; Logan Siddall, treasurer; and Lydia Powell, secretary.
“It was stressful having all new officers, but I think we’re doing well,” Higginbottam said. “It took awhile [for everyone] to adjust to the responsibilities of an officer.” Officers’ duties include handling money, picking books, and administering the annual Read-A-Thon.
The turnout on Wednesday wasn’t as a large as expected compared to the last few years. “It’s smaller because of sports [practices] and [rehearsals for] the fall musical, which prevented kids who I know wanted to be here,” Crowder said. The 30 to 40 students who were there listened to the officers and sponsors present the club’s schedule. Once they covered the basics, Ex Libris members began the real purpose of the club: discussing books.
Their choices were Stolen by Lucy Christopher, Young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud by Andy Lane, and Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card. When the officers select the books, they consider many different genres to try to find something for everyone, Hanie said. Members can also suggest books by dropping their titles in a suggestion box that sits on the front counter in the Media Center.
Hanie described that corner of the counter as “Ex Libris central” where members can always find the description of the book choices, the novels available for checkout, and information about dues, which are $10 to join and $13 for a T-shirt.
When their next meeting rolls around tomorrow after school, members will split into three groups based on the books they chose. Before they begin their book discussions, officers will announce the three new selections for their November meeting. Traditionally, the leaders for the book discussions are Hanie, Crowder, and a guest speaker, who is usually a teacher.
Crowder said they tried something new this year. “We conducted a survey and based on that, we made some decisions. We have
Second-year member Emily Hasenfus appreciated this new addition. “I like the survey-thing they’re doing. It gives [them] more feedback.”
The club will continue its popular annual fundraiser, the Read-A-Thon. This activity allows members to spend a Friday night reading in the Media Center for five hours with a dinner break. Parents are always willing to volunteer to help out with food, which is usually pizza, Hanie said. The event has been held in the spring semester in previous years, but a survey question asked members if they preferred it earlier in the school year. The results showed about an equal number of votes for either option, so Hanie and Crowder decided to keep the Read-A-Thon at the beginning of the second semester. It will probably be held in January, Hanie said. Participants ask sponsors to support them by pledging either a fixed or a per-page-read amount. The money goes to a charity of the officers’ choosing that promotes reading for children in need.
“It’s important for it to be a literary charity since we are a book club,” Hanie explained. “The goal for this year is to make $2,000.” The most they’ve ever raised during this event was just over $2,000 last year. Hanie said she is determined that the club raise that amount again this year.
Ex Libris is continuously altering their club to make it much more accessible to students who love to read. Sophomore Alex Hamson joined for the first time this year and explained his decision, “It seems very laid back and everyone seems easy to communicate with.”