Special Silent Book Club Event at Ashley Pond
Published on June 17, 2026
Los Alamos Public Library invites readers to participate in a special summer session of Silent Book Club, held outdoors on the Central Avenue side of Ashley Pond. The free event will take place Wednesday, June 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The library has hosted Silent Book Club for two years. The group meets twice a month to read, journal or craft quietly, free from the stress and electronic interruptions of daily life. Participants read for an hour, then informally discuss books or share stories. New members are encouraged to attend this event and give it a try. Participants should bring a book or other quiet, unplugged activity, a picnic blanket and, if desired, a brownbag dinner or snack. Library staff will provide reading suggestions and extra books for drop-ins. Ten book themed tote bags will be raffled off.
The group was started by Aimée Doiron, the library specialist responsible for adult programs. The group soon became an official chapter of the worldwide Silent Book Club organization and, as such, is part of a global community with 2,000 chapters in more than 60 countries. The tagline of the Silent Book Club is “Happy Hour for Introverts,” but it offers all community members, outgoing or not, an opportunity to unplug, meet people and build community by sharing books and stories.
Senior Librarian Eva Jacobson notes that Silent Book Club has been more successful as a regular library program than traditional book club formats. She attributes its success to the need for community connection and the freedom to read your own book rather than a mandated read. It is low-pressure and steers clear of the more formal structure of most book clubs. “A couple of years ago, I had a revelation while walking through a public park in my native Copenhagen,” she said. “A large group of readers casually lounged and read side by side, and it’s a scene I haven’t been able to erase from my mind. We wanted to try that right here at Ashley Pond.”
Silent Book Club is for adults and teens, but for this event younger independent readers may join as well. Should rain require the event to be relocated, the group will move inside to Mesa Public Library across Central Avenue. In July, the library will also host a meeting at the White Rock Branch Library to see whether the program can expand within the county. For even more Silent Book Club options, check out the new Silent Book Club for kids.
For more information about the special SBC events, visit the library’s event calendar or call (505) 662-8250. To learn more about the Silent Book Club organization, visit their website here, silentbook.club