Innovation Roadmap: Good Hang Hybrid Book Club

Note:Try as I might, I was unable to adjust the videos to fit onscreen, even after researching the issue. I would love any help if you can offer it. 

Capitalizing on the popularity of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the Murrieta Public Library will host a monthly in-person book club that centers on light-hearted, comedy books, such as those written by the guests of the Good Hang podcast (Ten Steps for Planning, Lecture Module 7). Good Hang has rocketed to the top of the charts in just a few months (currently ranked 7th and 13th for listeners on Spotify and Apple). Amy invites friends and celebrities to share stories and to talk about what is making them laugh. The podcast is not about giving advice, but rather to have a good time.   Good Hang

A key component of the book club will be a Facebook page for members that will allow for online discussion between group meetings, building excitement for the in-person meetings, and deepening connections between members. We are seeking to help the Adults in Murrieta to increase social connections and help to address the loneliness epidemic. We will build community through light-hearted fun both in-person and online.  The in-person format would follow typical book club discussion questions, while the online community would focus on reacting to clips from the podcast, sharing and responding to favorite passages, and generally being friendly. 

Mission & Institutional Context

Consistent with our library’s and city’s goals of being the heart of the community that is engaged, connected, and caring, we aim to fulfill our library’s vision of to improve the quality of life through partnerships, innovation, and meaningful connections.  Murrieta Public Library Strategic Plan

VISION STATEMENT

We aim to inspire lifelong learning, creativity, and

curiosity with an understanding of the needs of our

diverse community. We seek to improve the quality of

life through partnerships, innovation, and

meaningful connections.

Based on our SOAR analysis, our community desires more events, with higher attendance, and better external communication. While our SWOTAR analysis suggests that staff desire to be a lighthouse to the community through innovative programming.

With a primary goal of expanding as a community hub, we can work toward our objective of using physical and digital resources to improve access. This would meet further objectives for those who find it challenging to come to the library, such as those who live on the far side of town.

Offering a hybrid book club, would allow people to have the convenience of connection online, while providing a regular in-person community building experience. 

Action Brief Statement 

Convince Adults in Murrieta that by participating in a Hybrid Comedy book club, they will leverage the accessibility of social media to deepen in-person connections, which will alleviate loneliness by building community, because the Murrieta Public Library has a vision to build meaningful connections.

Inspiration

Since the pandemic, online book clubs have become popular across the country. Typically the book club meets online using Zoom of Google Meet, free applications that many people are comfortable with. 

• The LA Public Library offers book clubs in-person and online on Zoom. Book Clubs – LA County Library
• Additionally book clubs are provided through services such as PBC Library Book Clubs | Engage More Patrons | PBC Guru These book clubs are “professionally moderated” and do not require, but allow for the library to co-moderate the online chat discussion.
•  PBC’s service is used by The Ocean County LIbrary. Online Book Club | Ocean County Library
• How Libraries Use Social Media to Engage Readers and Build Communities – Library & Information Science Education Network

• We intend to use Facebook as a supplement to our in-person discussions. While Discord is a newer communication tool, 47 percent of our users already use Facebook to connect with the library. Facebook is not the leading edge of technology, it is where we find our largest group of patrons (Adopt or Adapt, Stephens). It is an all-purpose platform that allows for comments, questions. polls, user-generated content, and fosters a sense of familiarity (LIS Education Network)
• In mentions using a popular podcast as a tool for Readers Advisory. As we are conducting our 3-month Beta test of our Hybrid book club, this can be a theme to highlight in our collection placing these books in our front display case and highlighting them on our Facebook page. Gifts of this hour, Stephens (2019)
• Eighty-one percent of library users have a smart phone (Services to Mobile Users), making Facebook easily accessible for most users. 
• Facebook interactions will set the foundation for our discussion allowing the in-person meetings to have a warmer, social feeling. 

Guidelines & Policies

• Our guidelines and policies should include expected behavior, unacceptable behavior and consequences, and how to address grievances concerning both our in-person and online communication (Code of Conduct – Get Lit Book Club – LibGuides at Garrett College).
• The Adult Services Team will contribute to these policies shaped by our general Code of Conduct (Patron Code of Conduct).
• The values that drive our policies will be access, inclusivity, safety, and the free expression of ideas (Code of Conduct | Core).

Timeline for Implementation, Marketing & Promotion, Staff Training & Readiness 

This section was developed using ChatGPT. 

Total setup time: ~10 weeks before launch

Weeks 1–2: Planning & Approval 

Goals: Define audience and logistics.

• Establish target audience as Adults and focus on comedy genre.
• Confirm meeting cadence: 1× in-person per month + 2× per week virtual discussion initiated by library staff on Facebook.
• Confirm feasibility of Facebook page with accessibility features.
• Reserve meeting space and set recurring dates for 6 months.
• Draft participant guidelines (conduct, privacy, attendance, tech help).
• Confirm budget: book copies, refreshments, publicity.

Deliverables:
Program outline, approved schedule, and policies.

Weeks 3–4: Technology & Training

Goals: Set up and test hybrid technology.

• Create Hybrid Book Club Facebook page (link, permissions, moderator tools).
• Draft “How to Join” guide for participants (print + digital).
• Train staff/volunteers to moderate hybrid discussions. Starting a Book Discussion Group – Book Discussion Groups – LibGuides at American Library Association

Deliverables:
Working hybrid setup, printed quick-start guides, trained facilitators.

Weeks 5–6: Book Selection & Discussion Design

Goals: Curate engaging and accessible reading options.

• Choose 3–4 months of titles (include multiple formats: print, eBook, audiobook).
• Develop discussion prompts for in-person meetings and companion media (quotes, articles, podcast videos) for the Facebook discussion group. (Running book discussion groups : a how-to-do-it manual by Lauren Zina John)
• Order extra copies; ensure e-resources are licensed for simultaneous use.
• Plan facilitation structure (moderator rotation, group norms).

Deliverables:
Reading list + discussion materials for the first quarter.

Version 1.0.0

Weeks 7–8: Outreach & Registration

Goals: Recruit members and promote the club.

• Announce via newsletter, social media (Facebook and Instagram), flyers, and library website. Advertising on Facebook will be a key strategy, as it will capitalize on the most common way users interact with the library on social media. 
• Outreach will focus on the fun, light-hearted nature of the Good Hang podcast, sharing clips from the podcast to engage users.
• Set up online and phone registration.
• Offer a short “tech orientation” drop-in session for first-time virtual users.

Deliverables:
Active registration form, promotional materials, tech orientation date.

Week 9: Final Prep

Goals: Confirm readiness for public launch.

• Send calendar invites, reminders, and tech instructions.
• Prepare room layout and signage for hybrid setup.
• Finalize discussion materials and backup plan.

Deliverables:
Launch checklist, confirmed attendance.

Week 10: Official Launch

Goals: Host first hybrid session and establish rhythm.

• Welcome participants, review group norms, and gather expectations.
• Run 60 minute sessions (icebreaker → book discussion → wrap-up survey).
• Gather post-session feedback for continuous improvement.
  

Ongoing (Monthly)

• Rotate book selections by member vote.
• Maintain hybrid consistency (regular Facebook posting, same meeting slot).
• Track attendance, engagement, and tech support needs.
• Refresh outreach quarterly.
• Evaluate success: participation, satisfaction, accessibility, and circulation of featured titles.

Evaluation (Ten steps for Planning, Lecture 7)

• Attendance: Online & in-person participant count
• Engagement: Average discussion participation
• Access: Tech support requests, eBook checkouts
• Satisfaction: Quarterly feedback survey (1–5 rating)
• Outcomes: Increased use of library service, new library card holders

Future Expansion

Future expansion ideas could focus on other popular podcasts. Additionally, book clubs centered around YouTube and other short form content creators would be a a great foundation for a Teen hybrid book club that is carried out in-person and online on Discord.