Two people read in a library

KOKOMO, Ind. — You can now become part of the Indiana University Kokomo and Howard County community through reading.

The IU Kokomo Library and Kokomo-Howard County Public Library have collaborated to offer Pages Across Kokomo, a monthly book club open to students, faculty, staff, and community members.

This is the second year for the book club, said Martha Barker, IU Kokomo library collections coordinator.

“We wanted to get students, faculty, and staff involved, while also opening the opportunity for the broader Kokomo community to participate,” she said. Barker said the club also promotes borrowing privileges available at both libraries. IU Kokomo students can get a public library card by showing their IU Crimson Card and a driver’s license or another form of identification with their address on it. Also any Indiana resident can get a borrower’s card from the campus library with a photo ID and proof of residency.

Both libraries will have copies of the selected books available for check out, either as physical or digital copies. Meetings will be in the IU Kokomo Library Gathering Space, 2300 S. Washington St., Kokomo, or on Zoom, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Dates of discussions, along with book selections, include:

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 9 – Solito by Javier Zamora

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 14 – Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell

5:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 11 – Twenty-four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds

The club will not meet in December because of IU Kokomo final exams, but will resume in January, with dates and selections to be announced at a later time.

Barker said book discussions give students an opportunity to read for enjoyment and to connect with other people.

“For our students, this gives them a way to make friends by talking to people who they may not have had a class with. They can also see what resources are available to them not just through our library, but in the Kokomo community as well.”

No advance registration is required to attend in person. Those who want to attend via Zoom may register at go.iu.edu/8uns.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.