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  • Book Discussions

Books in a Bag

    Due to an unexpected issue with our reservation software, our Books in a Bag program will be temporarily suspended starting December 20, 2024. The program will reopen for new reservations in mid-2025.

    All reservations in the system by the end of the day on Thursday, December 19, 2024, will be honored. 

    If you have any questions, please contact the Adult Services Department at 317.814.3988 or adultservices@carmelclaylibrary.org.

    Books in a Bag are ready-made kits for your book discussion group. We do everything for you except read the book! Each kit contains at least eight copies of the book, discussion questions, and an author biography. Click the Reserve Books in a Bag button below to see what books are available, read book summaries, and find out how many copies of each book will be included in the kit. You may reserve kits up to 18 months in advance. Kits are available for a six-week checkout period.

    Instructions for making new reservations are provided below. You will receive an email when your kit is ready to pick up at the Main Library's Adult Services Desk on the second floor. We will also send you a reminder email before your kit is due.

    If you have questions about Books in a Bag, call our Adult Services Department at 317.814.3988.

    book group enjoying Books in a Bag

    Reserve Books in a Bag

    How to Reserve Books in a Bag

    Click the Reserve Your Books in a Bag button above to enter the KitKeeper reservation system. Then choose from the three options that appear.

    1. List — See a complete list of titles available, including the number of copies that will be included in the kit
    2. Reserve — Reserve the kit for a particular title
    3. Dates — Check which titles are available on a particular date

    Find the title you want to reserve and choose the date that you want to pick up the books at the Adult Services Desk on the second floor of the Main Library. Remember that you will need to pick up the books before the date of your discussion so your group members have time to read them. (For example, if you wish to discuss a book in mid-December, you may want to pick up the books in mid-November.) Click on Reserve. If there is no Reserve link on the calendar for your desired date, the title is not available for that date.

    Next, fill in the Kit Reservation Form. Pay attention to the pickup date and the due date shown at the bottom of the form. When you visit the Main Library's Adult Services Desk to pick up your kit, you will be asked to present your valid library card.

    Tip: If you'd like to reserve several Books in a Bag kits at one time, check the calendar to make sure all your titles are available on your desired dates. It may be necessary to rearrange the order you read the books. Do not click Reserve until you have checked all the books on your list.

    You cannot delete a reservation, but if you contact the Adult Services Department at 317.814.3988, staff can delete a reservation for you.