Celebrity book clubs and public libraries: opportunity and threat?

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this Editorial is to discuss the nature of television-based celebrity bookrnclubs and the pressures on public librarians to provide reading material for users who wish to takernpart in them.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The article provides a reflective viewpoint.rnFindings - While initiatives that promote reading should be welcomed, equally librarians may havernto concern themselves with the ethics of stock selection in promoting such clubs. While this does notrnmean taking part is a mistake, stock selection based on anything other than community need isrnpotentially problematic.rnPractical implications - Of practical use to practitioners who may be considering the issue ofrnpromoting books made popular via television endorsement.rnOriginality/value - The paper questions whether something that is taken for granted, i.e.rnpromotion of reading through such clubs, is actually always a good thing for libraries and readers.