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Ror Book Lovers

Good Reads Looking for a good book to read?
Let us help you find something that fits your interests and needs. Our "Book Lovers" page contains information for those who love to read and are looking for books and other library materials for personal enjoyment.

  • Want a good book? Use Your Bettendorf Library card to log on to NoveList - an online reader's advisor. NoveList is a fiction database that provides subject heading access, reviews, annotations, and much more for over 135,000 fiction titles. It also includes other content of interest to fiction readers, such as Author Read-alikes, What We're Reading, Book Discussion Guides, Book Talks and Annotated Book Lists.

  • Receive Monthly newsletters via e-mail each month from Book News. Readers can select electronic newsletters based on genres, including new fiction, new non-fiction, mystery, business books, home and garden books, and science fiction books. Register here.

  • Join our online Book Clubs. Each day we'll email you a 5-minute portion of a book. During the week you can read 2-3 chapters and decide if you want to check the book out of the library. every Monday we start new books. Sign up and start reading.

  • The Library sponsors various book discussion groups. The Contemporary Books Discussion Group and the Mystery Book Discussion Group meet monthly, September through May. Newcomers are welcome anytime. Occasionally the Library sponsors book discussions on specific topics. Check our Calendar of Events or our newsletter Pages for information on days, times, and the titles to be discussed in any of our groups.

    Contemporary Books Discussion Group
    The contemporary group reads both classic and current popular fiction and nonfiction titles which are chosen by a vote of the entire group at the end of each discussion year. The leaders are volunteers from the group who are given supplemental material (author biographies, book reviews, etc.) by the Library liaison. The Library provides the books, which are loaned to the participants. This group offers both afternoon and evening sessions. Click here for a list of titles, dates and times. For a list of books from previous years, click here. (.pdf file)

Mystery Book Discussion Group
The mystery group is lead by the Library liaison. The mysteries to be discussed are chosen for the year based on a theme upon which the group votes. The books may be literary criticism, biographies, or true crime as well as fictional mysteries. The Library provides the books, which are loaned to the participants. Click here for a list of titles, dates and times. For a list of books from previous years, click here. (.pdf file)

  • Have you read all the titles by your favorite author? Check our "If you like" booklists to find similar authors.

  • For a list of new library materials click here.

  • Visit with an Author (Check with venue before going to confirm)
    Author Title Date Time Place
    Mary Costello Missippi River Dreams: Coming of Age in the 1850's 6/6 Noon

    Midwest Writing Center

    Mike McCart Little Creatures & Modern Mythmakers 6/6
    6/7

    4:00 p.m.
    2:00 p.m.

    Prairie Lights Books- Iowa City
    James Twyman The Moses Code seminar 6/7 10:00 a.m. Unity Curch - Moline
    Jeff Shaara The Steel Wave 6/9 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books- Iowa City
    Nam Le The Boat 6/10 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books- Iowa City
    Jennifer Banash The Elite 6/11 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books- Iowa City
    Holly Cleeland Making Glue & Go children's costumes 6/11
    6/12
    7:00 p.m.
    10:00 a.m.
    Bettendof Public Library
    LeClaire Public Library
    Rebecca Stott Ghostwalk 6/12 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Judy Polumbaum China Ink 6/13 1:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Merna D. Throne Transforming Your Negative Self-talk 6/14 11:15 a.m. Midwest Writing Center
    Linda Skeers The Impossible Patriotism Project 6/14

    1:30 p.m.

    Barnes & Noble - Davenport

    Juliette Patterson & G.E. Patterson Truant Lover
    To And From
    6/16 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    David Wroblewski

    The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

    6/17 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Ben Taylor The Book of Getting Even 6/18 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Shannon Olson,
    Barrie Jean Borich,
    Morgan Grayce Willow
    Riding Shotgun, Women Talk About Their Mothers 6/19 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Majorie Hart Summer at Tiffany 6/21 12:00 p.m. Iowa Book Company - Iowa City

    Erika Wurth,
    Sheryl Luna,
    Gabriel Gome

    Indian Trains
    Pity the Drowned Horses
    Outer Bands
    6/23 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Bill Jamerson Big Shoulders 6/24 10:00 a.m. Davenport Public Library
    Josh Emmons The Loss Of Leon Meed 6/24 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Vic Camillo Death Songs of Africa 6/25 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Julia McDonald Luncheon and discussion 6/26 11:45 a.m. Rogalski Center - St. Ambrose Univ.
    Jana Kohl A Rare Breed of Love 6/26 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City
    Deborah Crombie Where Memories Lie 7/7 7:00 p.m. Prairie Lights Books - Iowa City

  • Try some of the favorite books of our staff, board, and volunteers -2006 favorites, 2005 favorites, 2004 favorites, 2003 favorites, 2002 favorites, 2001 favorites, 2000 favorites, 1999 favorites, 1998 favorites, and 1997 favorites.

  • For more suggestions, listen to About Books, a radio program on Saturdays at noon on WVIK (90.3 FM in the Quad-Cities). You can see some of the books the show's hosts and guests have recommended here.

  • Check out our book discussion kits, DIBS (Discussions In BoxeS). These contain a selection of challenging and entertaining discussion books plus a binder full of reviews and information about the authors. They have a check-out period of six weeks. Click here to see a list of the available titles.

  • Bettendorf Public Library staff have chosen some of our favorite websites for readers:
  • Internet sites of interest to book groups:
    www.readinggroupcenter.com
    www.bookclubreader.com
    www.harpercollins.com/readers/readingGroups.aspx
    www.randomhouse.com/knopf/catalog/rgg.html
    www.randomhouse.com/BB/read
    www.penguinputnam.com
    www.twbookmark.com/books/reading_guides.html
    www.readinggroupguides.com
    www.barnesandnobleuniversity.com
A Poem A Day for April - National Poetry Month

Bettendorf Public Library staff have chosen some of our favorite websites for readers:



  • Don't forget you can always stop by the Information Desk to talk to a librarian, or call us at (563) 344-4179. You may also send your question via an online form, or e-mail us at info@bettendorflibrary.com. We'll be happy to help you find a good book to read as well as answer your other questions. We will also consider your recommendation for items to add to the Library collection.