Selection process for side read

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

Different groups schedule their group reads in different ways - some groups basically schedule one month ahead, so they start selecting a book for October in late August/early September. Some groups schedule in three or six month clumps, and some groups schedule an entire year at a time.

What is the preference here? We already have our schedule for the Agatha Christie reads all the way into 2026, but I'm wondering about the side reads. Do we want to try to select and schedule the rest of the books for 2020 now, or do we want to do it on a month-by-month basis? There are benefits to both ways of doing it.

[Mike]

I think choosing month by month would add some spontaneity while still giving people time to get hold of the books.

[BrokenTune]

Mike wrote: "I think choosing month by month would add some spontaneity while still giving people time to get hold of the books."

Agreed.

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

BrokenTune wrote: "Mike wrote: "I think choosing month by month would add some spontaneity while still giving people time to get hold of the books."

Agreed."

Two votes for month by month!

I think that this does provide for some nice spontaneity and it keeps the group fresh, so it's my preference as well.

I think that we should strive to be a full month ahead - so, we'll start picking the October book next week, with the poll to be completed by September 1, and so on from there - we'll select the November book by the end of September, etc. That gives everyone a full month to get a hold of their book if they want to read it. Especially with readers from many different countries, it might take time to source a book.

[Gretchen]

The group I mod for will do an October selection this week (this thread reminded me I need to get on that). I will have nominations available through the 15th. The poll will then go up until the 20th. We try to give people at least a month to get a hold of the book.

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

Gretchen wrote: "The group I mod for will do an October selection this week (this thread reminded me I need to get on that). I will have nominations available through the 15th. The poll will then go up until the 20..."

That seems like a really good schedule!

[Natalie aka Tannat]

Just wanted to speak up that I like choosing month to month with a whole month in advance warning to source the book.

[Brenda]

I don’t mind the above approaches with a month lead time.

[Michaela]

Natalie aka Tannat wrote: "Just wanted to speak up that I like choosing month to month with a whole month in advance warning to source the book."

Agree about this, as it takes some time to get a book.

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

We're going to be a bit short for September, but we should easily hit the target for October, & from here on out!

[Natalie aka Tannat]

Christine PNW wrote: "We're going to be a bit short for September, but we should easily hit the target for October, & from here on out!"

Eh, we're still finding our feet and working things out. It doesn't have to be a hard rule, but a goal we should set ourselves. :)

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

Natalie aka Tannat wrote: "Eh, we're still finding our feet and working things out. It doesn't have to be a hard rule, but a goal we should set ourselves. :)"



As M. Poirot would say: "oui."

[❂ Murder by Death]

Agreed with everyone - especially about the lead time. Things here being the way they are, mail deliveries are only being done 3 times a week, and if I have to source anything internationally, well, tbh, 3 months might not be enough time, as all commercial flights are grounded until at least next year, so what comes in is limited.

Worst case though, I can put on my big girl pans and read digitally if necessary.

[Natalie aka Tannat]

❂ Murder by Death wrote: "Agreed with everyone - especially about the lead time. Things here being the way they are, mail deliveries are only being done 3 times a week, and if I have to source anything internationally, well..."

Let's hope that things as they currently are is only temporary.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Natalie aka Tannat wrote: "Let's hope that things as they currently are is only temporary.."

Amen.

[Teresa]

I'd go for month by month.

[Tara]

Where will we be able to find the current and upcoming reads? The group page seems to have the September reads as the current, and the upcoming as Nov and Dec (but only the AC reads and not the side/buddy ones.) I just want to make sure I'm checking the right spot to see what I need to source for in the next month or so.

[Christine PNW, Agathyte]

Tara wrote: "Where will we be able to find the current and upcoming reads? The group page seems to have the September reads as the current, and the upcoming as Nov and Dec (but only the AC reads and not the sid..."

Well - thank you for pointing this out, Tara! I need to get in touch with my inner Lucy Eyelesbarrow and do some housekeeping!