Two years after the first lively discussion of Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde, the Wednesday Night Readers book discussion group is still attracting fifteen to twenty tutors and learners each month.
     These monthly workshops began in January 2001 with the simple idea of bringing learners and tutors together to share their thoughts and feelings about a book they read during the previous four weeks.
     At every meeting, a book is distributed to all participants — tutors get the book, learners get the book as well as the book on tape. This allows learners at any reading level to take part in the following month's discussion. Discussion questions for each novel are also distributed so that tutor/learner teams can focus on reading and comprehension during their regular tutoring sessions.
     Originally, the book group was planned and facilitated by Instruction Supervisor Lynne Price and Program Director Randy Weaver. However, since January of this year, two fantastic volunteer tutors — Renee Snyder and John Gildersleeve — have taken over this assignment. Renee and John are doing an outstanding job in leading the group and maintaining excitement in the monthly discussions.
     Here's what one Wednesday Night Reader said about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, which we discussed in February:

     Recently, we received financial support for the Wednesday Night Readers from the San Francisco Federal Credit Union. They kindly donated $500 which covered the purchase of books and tapes of The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, which we've scheduled for discussion in May. Because this is an expensive workshop to fund month after month (tutors and learners are allowed to keep all materials), we hope to receive continued community support from corporations and individuals.