By Savannah Howe Three Austin organizations have teamed up in an effort to start important conversations in the community as our world continues to change. Numerous studies and surveys had revealed the increase of book sales and reading during 2020, as people were forced to choose isolation and solitary hobbies during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the world outside ached under blow after blow of civil unrest, protests, violence and tragedy. For a library director, an opportunity to create a new circle of passionate readers could not have been more perfect. The library has many other book clubs, but meetings during the pandemic had come to a halt. Director Julie Clinefelter could sense the desperation to reestablish the human connection. “We noticed there was a sudden increase in desire for people to get together and talk about books,” Clinefelter said. “Everybody had spent 2020 reading, and now they wanted to talk about it.” On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis. As the lasting effects socially and culturally rocked Minnesota and the nation, Clinefelter and many others were craving conversation. In the following September, she and a small group of library staff started meeting outside to discuss trending books on socioeconomic happenings and equality. A monthly book choice and regular meetings ensued. The Human Rights Commission, it turned out, had been doing the same thing in the meantime, and the organizations coincidentally picked the same book for January. In January of 2021, the Austin Public Library and Human Rights Commission, along with Riverland Community College, joined forces to found the Social Justice Book Club. When the weather turned cold, meetings transitioned to Zoom.
Austin Public Library Director Julie Clinefelter has been instrumental in organizing the Social Justice Book Club.
Photos by Savannah Howe/newsroom@austindailyherald.com
72 | Austin Daily Herald | Progress 2022
Join the important conversations with library’s newest book club
