Throughout Spain, book clubs are facing a busy season: new groups are forming, digital reading training is being strengthened, and thematic series featuring top authors are being programmed. These offerings come from municipal libraries , cultural centers, and museums, with options for diverse audiences and convenient schedules.
In addition to in-person events, the use of digital tools that complement paper resources is being promoted, such as public lending services for ebooks, audiobooks, and films. Interest continues to grow, with free initiatives and a reception that in some cases already has a waiting list.
New book club in Gines for women
A book club specifically for women has been launched at the Gines Municipal Women's Information Center (Seville), an initiative of the City Council's Department of Equality, Social Welfare, and Health. The first session focused on Muriel Barbery's * The Elegance of the Hedgehog * and was facilitated by cultural promoter María José Jiménez Flor, known as "Pepa Viola."
The activity follows a regular schedule: it will be held on the last Wednesday of each month, from 18:00 to 20:00 PM , with a new work featured at each meeting. For the next session, the chosen work is *Tea Rooms: Working Women *, by Luisa Carnés , an essential classic of Spanish social literature.
The club was created as a space to enjoy reading , share experiences, and build connections among neighbors through literary dialogue. The reception has been especially positive , to the point that a waiting list has already been established, while maintaining the free nature of the program.
Digital training in Daimiel for reading clubs
The Daimiel Municipal Library (Ciudad Real) has organized a practical workshop in its Children's Room for members of reading clubs to learn how to use e-book devices . The session, led by library technician Ana Sánchez-Herrera, brought together ten members of the adult reading club for a training course designed for beginners.
The initiative responds to the need of many groups to easily incorporate e-reading into their routines. Among the key advantages of these devices are e-ink , which reduces eye strain, the ability to adjust font size, and their lightweight design, making it easy to carry multiple books on the same device.
The organization emphasizes that the goal is not to replace paper , but to add a useful and accessible alternative that expands reading options, especially for those seeking convenience and personalization.
During the workshop, the use of eBiblio , the free public service for borrowing ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines online, was also recommended. Laura García-Carpintero , librarian in the Adult Reading Room , noted the sustained growth in both the number of users and the available catalog.
She also pointed out that signing up is easy: simply use the library credentials provided when you register as a user. And for those exploring other cultural options, eFilm is also available , allowing you to request and watch films from your computer or mobile device.
A series on Mathias Énard in Madrid
Madrid is hosting a book club dedicated to Mathias Énard , one of the most prominent voices in contemporary European fiction. The author, a specialist in Oriental languages, proposes in his work a constant dialogue between East and West , past and present.
The cycle is structured in two sessions focused on his novels Desertar and Brújula , the latter recognized with the Goncourt Prize in 2015. The readings invite exploration of themes such as travel, exile , identity and memory, pillars of Énard's literary universe.
The club concludes with a meeting with the author on December 4th at 18:30 pm at the Prado Museum , as part of the "Writing the Prado" program. This activity is aimed at adults and young people aged 14 and over, and is designed to encourage participation and shared analysis.
With new local openings, workshops to make the most of digital reading , and clubs that introduce readers to great European authors, the book club scene in Spain is showing strength and diversity. Free initiatives, consistent schedules, and services like eBiblio are making it easier for more people of all ages to join an increasingly active reading community.
