THE BOOK OF LOVE
It’s time to open a new chapter on relationships … literally.
Forget Tinder or internet dating, the latest matchmaker is totally oldschool. It’s your local librarian. OK, maybe it’s not technically a dating service, but city libraries have started up Readers’ Rendezvous – a program where they set you up with the book club of your dreams. And while you never know just who you will meet, you can guarantee they’ll have your same great taste in books.
Gold Coast libraries customer service executive co-ordinator Alison Kemp says the city is full of men and women who love to read and are looking for like-minded friends to share their passion with.
“There are a huge number of book clubs on the Gold Coast but a lot of them are closed — and new ones fill up fast,” she says.
“It’s one of the requests we get all the time and it can be hard for people to find the right group, particularly when you’re new to the city which so
many people are.
“With the Readers’ Rendezvous service you just fill out a registration form, email it to us or drop it in at your local branch, and we match you with people in your area with similar tastes.
“Then you all come in to your local library and we give you guidelines on how to run a book club — we can even give you a kit so your first few reads are sorted, we have enough copies of certain books so that everyone can just borrow them from us.”
Alison says the number of Gold Coast readers is surprising — as are their demographics.
“We primarily see people aged between 25 and 45 years, reading is still a very popular past-time,” she says.
“We had a book club information night once and it was actually a big group of men who came. Of course, they all ended up together because they like reading Wilbur Smith and Clive Cussler.
“Readers’ Rendezvous really is like a dating service though, we pay a lot of attention in making the right matches.
“I’m not sure if anyone’s met The One at our book clubs but you’re pretty sure to make some new friendships — and definitely read some great books.” That’s a happy ending right there. WHERE: Gold Coast libraries
CONTACT: email esl@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or go to goldcoast.qld.gov.au/library PRICE: Free