A cookbook club is a great community building program and perhaps a good fit for your local library. Some times libraries are stretched thin for staff or funding. Offering to volunteer as host might help. 

A consistent day each month helps folks schedule participation (1st Thursday, 2nd Wednesday, etc.). Think of matching up the meeting with meals like 12 pm lunch or 6 pm dinner for example. Don't forget to consider conflicts for major holidays and the library business hours. 

First and most importantly is to make sure what ever cookbook you pick that there is enough copies for at least 10 attendees to check out of your local library system. Next is to consider who might attend and what they might like to cook. Think of seasonality and what local farms have to offer. 

Think about what gear you need to host a pot luck.

•  plates (small/large)

• bowls

• napkins/paper towels

• cups

• silverware/plasticware

• beverages (at least water)

• table signs to ID food and possible allergies

• nametags

• tablecloth

• spare tongs and/or serving spoons

• trivets or potholder

• plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil

Time to eat! Don't forget to invite library staff to make a plate. 

Good Questions to ask the group:

• Could you find the ingredients?

• Was the recipe easy to follow?

• Were the pictures useful/accurate?

• Did you make any changes or would you make changes next time?

• Would you buy this cookbook?

Share the cookbook for the next meeting. Have a copy handy so folks can check it out during the meeting.

Before clean up ask any of the other library patrons if they would like to join in and make a plate.

To-go boxes are good way to start clean up and give folks an extra meal to share. All able hands for clean up are welcome. Helping keep the library clean makes everyone happy.