Reading our own New Zealand stories can be a powerful experience and Invercargill 004 enjoyed hosting the author of a book in the 'New Zealand Stories' series produced by educational publisher... Read More

Prison volunteer Celia Bockett received an award from Department of Corrections Ara Poutama Aotearoa for her help in running a BDS book group at Tongariro prison.  BDS was advised of Celia's... Read More

“As a writer, I’m the end product of everything I’ve read,” said respected New Zealand author Lloyd Jones to an audience of 30 BDS members on Saturday night (1 September). Lloyd, a... Read More

New Zealand-based  author Charity Norman made a special visit to the BDS office on Friday 31 August to visit staff (no, we didn't quite 'See her in September', groan).  We... Read More

In July we said goodbye to a dedicated and long-term volunteer, Marjorie Latimer. Sadly, she died on 15 July. Our favourite (only) nonagenerian volunteer was a walking advertisement... Read More

A lucky bunch of 45 BDS members won double passes to the film The Book Club, thanks to Trigger Marketing. The company, which is promoting the film in New Zealand, approached BDS with an offer... Read More

Well loved Hawkes Bay novelist Charity Norman joined Napier 011 for their latest book group meeting. "Charity was a fascinating, delightful guest and we all loved hearing about her writing... Read More

17th August 1993 is when the first Morrinsville book group (001) came into existence, so it's not surprising they celebrated their quarter of a century recently. Seven of the 10-strong group were... Read More

It's not unusual for Book Discussion Scheme to receive the occasional card or email of thanks from members who appreciate the service we provide or to share how much they are enjoying their book... Read More

A periennial question often asked by book and film buffs is: 'Is the book better than the movie?'. When The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society hit the silver screen in... Read More

Auckland wordsmith and BDS book group member Megan Nicol Reed MC-ed a night of banned books   About thirty people were enveloped by the shelves of The Open Book second-hand bookshop in... Read More

Squeezing some Mills and Boon romance into her evening paid dividends for Book Night winner Wendy Horne. "I read for escapism," says Wendy. "I was reading a trashy romance; I hope no-one will diss... Read More

Mid Canterbury school principal Sean Wansbrough is a keen advocate of the pastime of reading, so much so that the school's homework policy reflects this. Pupils' homework requirements have been... Read More

An interest in farm equipment and animals helped Waikato pre-schooler Jett Wait win first prize in Book Night, our annual nationwide reading event for all ages. The 3-year old from Pirongia, located... Read More

BDS offers high schools a student book-group programme for the first part of the academic year. Fifteen student groups are operating this year, including an all-boys group at Sancta Maria College... Read More

About 300 BDS members recorded their participation in Book Night in May. Here's what some of you got up to.  "Lighting up our lives with books" - Tracey Friend sent in this pic of her... Read More

A total of 14 schools, 7 public libraries, 3 community groups (including Book Discussion Scheme!) and 4 private individuals organised activities as part of Book Night. Here's a small selection of... Read More

A cupcake and specially made commemorative pin were given to members of group AUCK 058 to mark the 25th anniversary of their group. All twelve current members of the West Auckland group, plus... Read More

  When our new staff member isn't making sense of figures in a spreadsheet, she's following the markings on a music score. Kirsty Grant, our Accounts Administrator, is part of a singing sextet... Read More

Book Night advocate Vicky Jones did not let a childhood biking misadventure deter her from developing a love of books. Vicky, an avid book group member and former employee of Book Discussion Scheme,... Read More

Lilliput Libraries are a Dunedin phenomenon but the concept has spread to Canterbury, thanks to a BDS staff member and her local Presbyterian church. Annie Boardman, who works part-time at BDS... Read More

Napier 021 remembered their former member Sean Hickling, who sadly passed away last year in his 41st year, by donating a book to Napier Boys' High School. Convenor of the group, Shirley... Read More

To celebrate its 21st birthday in February, book group Wellington 102 enjoyed a very special layer cake. Called an "opera" cake, it featured miniature chocolate books made by a culinary student... Read More

An Auckland based BDS book group aren't just reading about overseas experiences, they're going to live one. The 11-member group, comprising 4 men and 7 women, plan to spend 10 days together in Italy... Read More

Having poor eyesight doesn’t mean you can’t be part of a book group, according to a Far North reader Jean Dowson. Jean coordinates a Book Discussion Scheme book group that has been going for 22... Read More

Seven prison facilities throughout the country use Book Discussion Scheme resources to run book groups for male and female prisoners. Christchurch Women’s Prison was the first to establish a... Read More

  Member's feedback about BDS books and discussion notes is vital. Book groups' comments - whether positive or 'constructive' - help the scheme to maintain a quality selection of titles and... Read More

 When is a question a ‘good’ question? New Zealand author Tina Shaw is one of 22 Book Discussion Scheme notewriters who are faced with crafting ‘good’ questions and informative material... Read More

When a box of sparkling new books arrives at the Sydenham office of Book Discussion Scheme, not all staff view the arriving package with the full reverence it deserves! One such person is our... Read More