Are you looking for a new way to share your thoughts while meeting others in your community?

Joining your local book club might just be exactly what you are looking for. Book clubs not only provide avid readers with an outlet to engage in open conversations but allows them to meet other like-minded members of their community.

The Tamaqua Public Library, the Lehighton Memorial Library and the Third Monday Book Club in Palmerton are just a few of the places that offer local readers a chance to branch out and share their love of reading with others.

The Tamaqua Public Library’s book discussion group meets the last Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the library’s reading room. At the most recent meeting, club members discussed “The Day They Shook the Plum Tree” by local author Arthur H. Lewis.

Although the Mahanoy City native wrote the book in 1963, the club likes to experience the works of local novelists whenever possible.

Two of the books read and discussed by the book club include “Relative Danger” by Charles Benoit, a Lansford native; and “The Sommers Hill Adventure,” written by Summit Hill resident Stanley (Porky) Szczecina and a variety of other novels.

The club averages five to six members during each meeting and is “welcoming new members at any time,” said member Rose Houm of Tamaqua.

Those interested in joining can either visit the library’s website, or call or visit the Tamaqua Public Library for information on the group’s upcoming book. Monthly book selections are chosen by a member or by library recommendation.

Although selected books are usually available for purchase online, members can join the club at no cost and take advantage of the library’s inventory.

Even if the book is not currently available, it can be ordered for free through its Interlibrary Loan System. For more information visit http://www.taplpa.info.

Palmerton’s Third Monday Book Club meets on the third Monday of each month from September through May. Meetings are held at noon at the library in an upstairs room.

The book club averages around 15 attendees, however the number varies slightly.

Some of the group’s previously discussed books include “The Winter of Our Discontent” by John Steinbeck, “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead and “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles.

Selected books are generally a mix of classics and contemporary books.

The Lehighton Area Memorial Library also offers community members the chance to discuss and invest themselves in literature.

The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the library. For more information visit HTTPS://lehightonlibrary.com.

Penn-Kidder Library Center also has an adult book club. For more information, call 570-722-0300.

Weatherly Area Library hosts a book club for adults on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. Visit https://weatherlylibrary.org or call 570-427-5085.

Slatington Public Library holds its book club on the first Monday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 610-767-6461.

If your local library isn’t listed, check with them to see if a book club is offered. If not, you might want to help get one started.