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In Torbay we took the step to purchase multiple copies about 4 years ago, largely in response to a questionnaire sent to all members evaluating their experiences of being part of the Reader Group network. The opportunity to all read the same book together was the most oft-expressed wish for the future.  This was tricky in an authority of only 4 branches, especially when group membership was already averaging 12. Nonetheless, to build in room for expansion, we took the step to purchase 15 copies of each Reader Group title chosen. 2 years ago, in the interests of inclusion, I also started buying a single unabridged audio and - where possible - a Large Print edition of each title. We have members with varying degrees of  visual impairment in the groups, so I felt this was vital.  Once the titles are finished with by all the groups, 5 copies are added to stock (1 for each branch and 1 for our Mobile) whilst the other 10 remain as a set we can offer to external, non-library book groups, such as those run by U3A.

As to how the books are chosen, I have gone down the democratic route and let the members decide. Members are free to nomiate books for the annual vote, but they must fit certain criteria, which I check out myself:

1. The book must be available in unabridged audio format.
2. Print editions not to exceed 400 pages (and ideally around 300 - 350). I
am always concsious that I have a range of members with varying reading speeds and abilities and it seems unfair to ask an unconfident reader to toil through anything I won't have time to get through myself (I currently facilitate all the groups).
3. The book must be in print in an edition that is affordable to us (i.e. paperback - the average title currently retails at around £7.99).

Because it is difficult for members to research audio formats, I now draw up an initial shortlist of 26 books, divided equally between fiction and non-fiction, on which the group vote. To be honest, this becomes largely a question of trawling through the Clipper Audio catalogues, because I find they have an excellent range of titles, many of them obvious "Reader Group fodder." Once the members have voted, the 6 most successful fiction and 6 most successful non-fiction go to make up that year's reading list.

I was able a couple of years ago to swap a few of our old titles with Plymouth's Reader Group stock, but this arrangement ended as we no longer have reciprocal courier deliveries between the two authorities - and I don't drive!  However, it always occurs to me that some of the purchasing consortiums could investigate setting up a swap system for reader group stock.

Our readers certainly seem to appreciate being given some control over their reading list without it compromising the point of reader groups - expanding people's reading expereince beyond their usual choices.  As time has gone on and the groups have become bigger, we have had to break a couple groups down into smaller groups in order to make sure there are sufficient multiple copies to go round; recently it was not uncommon for 20 to turn up at a
single meeting.