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In Essex we have a mixture of reading groups:

• Groups where all readers have a visual impairment and all listen to audio
• Groups which form as audio groups and where most have a visual impairment but where they also include readers with normal vision who may read the book rather than listen to it
• Conventional groups which include readers with visual impairment and where the group makes reading choices on the basis of title being available in Large Print or audio.
• We also have a group in Mental Health Day centre which listens to Quick Reads audio. This has become a reading group in the near by library

We've got approx 360 groups at the moment - not entirely sure how many of them would be using audio in some way.  Our aim is to support readers to share reading in a way that suits their needs, so there's quite a range including emergent readers groups.

We are just about to launch a Booktalk group of the Year competition which you might be interested in.  It's looking at the impact of the reading group in the wider community - we're aware of a lot that is happening and are hoping to find out lot more!  I've attached the text for the next Booktalk newsletter which is now at designers.  It gives a lot of examples about impact of groups in communities plus some examples of audio groups. Click here to download.

We've done a bit of work on reading groups and MLA generic social outcomes and will be looking at entries for the group of the year  in that context too.

We have never had sets - fortunately with a large authority and large stock we're able to encourage groups to read widely.

We are just creating themed lists for groups  which will be alerting groups to books that are in plentiful supply and are great reads.  We have a Great group Reads on Ask Chris,  which groups use to share books that have worked well. http://askchris.essexcc.gov.uk/

We are trying to  give them practical supports in what to read that is readily available.  Theme lists will also indicate audio and large print.  The only restriction we place on groups is that they can't have newly published titles in hardback.

The lists will also give us a mechanism for promoting new writers, authors we're buying but not always managing to  promote effectively.