Clubs
We offer a variety of clubs at the library. Some meet online, others face-to-face.
Jump into our book clubs, join lively history discussions, or immerse yourself in languages.
Book Clubs
The Lansdowne Library currently hosts a variety of book clubs. Every month, the library reserves copies of the books each club is reading for patrons to check out from the circulation desk. Titles are often available on Libby and Hoopla as well.
If you would like to join a book club, you can register for meetings by clicking on the images for each club below. You can also email lareference@delcolibraries.org if you need help or if you would like to request email reminders for the clubs you are interested in.
Several book clubs meet on Zoom or offer that as an option along with joining in-person at the library. To join via Zoom, registration is required.
New to Zoom? Check out this instructional video!
Mondays Are Murder
Meeting the First Monday of the month (except on holidays) at 7:00 p.m., this book club will keep you on the edge of your seat with thrilling novels.
This is our only book club that currently meets exclusively on Zoom.
Page Turners
If you like to read a little bit of everything, this is the book club for you. We meet every other month (2nd Thursday at 7PM) at The Lansdowne Library and on Zoom. New members are always welcome!
Otherworldly Book Club
The Otherworldly Book Club welcomes readers who are fans of fantasy, science fiction and horror. We meet every other month (last Thursday at 7PM) at The Lansdowne Library and on Zoom.
Cookbook Club
A book club with cookbooks that has a potluck each meeting. Meets every other month on the second Tuesday at 6PM. This group meets in-person at The Lansdowne Library.
Questions? Email lareference@delcolibraries.org for help.
Lansdowne History Forum
2026 – 2027
The History of the Modern Middle East
This program meets most 3rd Thursdays of the month @ 7:00 PM.
History Forum meetings are held in-person at the Lansdowne Library and virtually on Zoom simultaneously. To join via Zoom, you must register online first. Click on the meeting dates you are interested in and follow the “Register here” link. If you need assistance, please contact the Lansdowne Public Library.
This will be our second year of exploring the history of the Middle East up to 1948 and the foundation of the state of Israel. As in the first year, the theme of European colonialism will dominate, but we will also get deeper into the incipient Arab-Israeli conflict, culmination in 1948 and the first Arab-Israeli war.
This group meets every month except for December, July, and August. The September meeting will be a week later than normal and will only be help online so registration is required for all who wish to attend.
Click the “+” icon to read descriptions and access registration links.
September 24, 2026: The Mao Mao Wars
British brutality in Kenya stands as perhaps the prime example of the destructive nature of British Colonial Rule. Register here.
October 15, 2026: Inventing Iraq
One of the clearest examples of history of the failure of nation building. Register here.
November 19, 2026: The Hebron Massacres 1929
For many historians, the Hebron Massacres are the key event in igniting the Arab-Israeli conflict. Register here.
January 21, 2027: The French Algerian War
One of the most significant and impactful of the anti-colonialist wars. Register here.
February 18, 2027: Arab Revolts of 1936
Three years of violent revolt that would set the trajectory for modern Middle East conflicts. Register here.
March 18, 2027: Ataturk and the Birth of the Modern Turkish Republic
Ataturk successfully survived the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and Turkish defeats in WW1 to establish Turkey as a modern republic. Register here.
April 15, 2027: The Bombing of the King David Hotel
At the time, the bombing of the King David Hotel represented the greatest death toll from any act of terrorism and would eventually persuade the British to leave Palestine. Register here.
May 20, 2027: The Biltmore Program 1942
At a conference in the Biltmore Hotel in New York City, Zionists presented their strongest demands for a Jewish State and it also recognized that the United States and not Britain would be the rising power in Middle East politics. Register here.
June 17, 2027: The First Arab-Israeli War 1948
Our studies culminate with the foundation of Israel and the first Arab-Israeli War which would establish the pattern of Arab-Israeli relations for decades to come. Register here.
Language Club
For more information or to participate, email ladirector@delcolibraries.org, or ask for Bill at the library. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Please note, these groups do not offer lessons, and participants are expected to attempt to express themselves in the target language as much as possible, though fluency is not required. These are friendly groups and we help each other out. For free lessons, we recommend Pronunciator and Duolingo.com.
Italian:
2nd and 4th Thursday monthly at 6pm, via Zoom
Spanish:
1st and 3rd Thursday monthly at 6pm via Zoom
Norwegian:
2nd and 4th Thursday monthly at 7pm, via Zoom