ABOUT
Welcome to Silent Book Club Monmouth County (SBC MoCo)!SBC MoCo is one of 1000+ chapters of the global Silent Book Club organization and is led by three women with a passion for books and bringing people together. Our mission is to connect like-minded booktroverts for a cozy reading experience in cool venues around Monmouth County. In addition to our monthly club meetings, we also have “side quests” such as an NYC Book Crawl, board game night, reading under the stars at the planetarium, and miniature bookshelf crafting.Our motto is “You can sit with us!” Members come to every meeting with a book and leave with new friends.We began meeting in September 2023 and average 40 attendees per event, with new attendees each time (our most popular event so far had 90 attendees!) We typically meet at bookstores, breweries, bars, and other fun venues around Monmouth County.As your volunteer organizers, we strive to adhere to Silent Book Club’s Community Guidelines and core tenets including but not limited to:
Having zero tolerance for hate speech, discrimination, bullying, and trolling
Ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all members
Silent Book Club Meetings are always free to attend and follow the same structure so you know what to expect
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are available
Locations are wheelchair-accessible, with ample parking and seating
Challenge by choice - any additional activities we offer are optional, and you should never feel pressured to participate
Never seeking to profit off of SBC (which is registered and trademarked) by:
Avoiding self-promotion or targeting the group for direct marketing of products and services, including self-published books, goods, websites, etc.
Collecting fees for Side Quests and Silent Sticker Club only to cover out-of-pocket expenses, such as supplies, venue fees, refreshments, printing of stickers and membership cards, etc.
We’re so grateful you’ve found our growing community & are enjoying connecting with new bookish friends at local haunts! We couldn’t do this without you, and we are beyond grateful that you want to sit with us. Thanks for being here.Love, your friendly neighborhood book nerds,Nicole, Kate, & Amy
MEETINGS
HOW DO I JOIN?
All you have to do to join us is show up! There is no formal registration required and we do not keep a member list. We do ask that you sign in upon arrival so we can determine our average head count and select appropriate venues in the future. We also capture what you're reading so we can help folks build their TBRs!IS IT FREE?
Our monthly meetups are always free to attend. We do ask that you support our host venue by purchasing food or drink if available! We also host monthly "side quests" which can incur additional fees for tickets and supplies. These are optional to attend and space is usually limited.CAN I COME ALONE?
Of course! Most of our members attend solo and there is always a chance to meet like-minded booktroverts. Or you can just read in the presence of others without judgment.ALL READERS WELCOME
This club is for everyone. Let us know how we can make you feel more welcome!One caveat is to please abide by the age appropriateness of the venue, such as breweries and/or bars that are 21+. The reason we choose these locations is due to size and availability. Drinking alcohol is not required and no one will give you a hard time if you choose not to!
MEETINGS OVERVIEW
Upon arrival to each meeting, sign in and let us know what you're reading, fill out a nametag and find a seat!Meetups will consist of approximately 30 minutes of socializing and then 1 hour of silent reading. Everyone brings their own book of their choosing.Afterward, we will have another 30 minutes of socializing (or you can keep reading if you'd rather).Meetups will occur at various venues around Monmouth County.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Your own book (kindle and audio count too!)
- A book light just in case
- Headphones if you prefer your own jams or earplugs if you're sensitive to light conversation (we do not have exclusive use of the venues)
- Book(s) to swap with other members (optional). Leave one, take one. All leftovers are donated to local Little Free Libraries.IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU....
- Go with the flow: Everything is first come, first serve. Stay on top of our socials for updates. Many of the questions you have will already be answered on our Instagram grid! Please excuse us if we miss your DM - we do our best to stay on top of them but are usually busy hosting and greeting members at the event.
- Provide us with feedback so we can improve future events (within reason - we are volunteers!). This group is for you and you're welcome to shoot us ideas or help out at events. Let’s make it better together!
- Support the host venue by purchasing food or beverage if available. Most venues allow you to bring your own drinks or order food, but please check with them first if you plan to do so.Follow us on Instagram for events info and day of updates (links at bottom of page).
MIX AND MINGLE
We now have color-coded bracelets to signify your social vibe for the event.Green = You can sit with me!
Red= I'm introverting tonight!- Pick a color upon arrival.
- Make sure it’s visible.
- Make new friends or be left alone.
- Switch your bracelet any time during the meeting if your mood changes.
SILENT STICKER CLUB
Sign up in person at one of our meetings!Membership is $35 to be paid in cash. In return you will receive 12 exclusive stickers designed by local NJ artists and receive a membership card. Join anytime throughout the year. If we run out of a month's sticker, we will prorate your membership cost for the remaining months.All stickers will be distributed on a monthly basis at our club meetings. If you cannot make it, we will hold your stickers in a designated envelope for you and mail out any remaining stickers at the end of the year.In keeping with the overarching spirit of the main Silent Book Club organization, SBC MoCo is 100% volunteer-run and free to attend for all members. It’s important for you to know that we have no intention to profit from the sale of these stickers except to recoup production costs.Check out the latest designs on Instagram (link below).
SBC VENUES
SBC FRIENDS
WANT TO HOST US?
Is your space indoors or outdoors?
Can you accommodate up to 100 people?
Is food and/or drink allowed or available for purchase?
Do you have plentiful seating?
Are there specific days of the week you prefer?
Interested in hosting a side quest?
Send us a message us on Instagram to plan your event! (Link below)
EVENTS CALENDAR
Regular meetups are always free to attend and we will do our best to find venues that can accommodate all of our members.Side Quests will typically have a fee (to cover supply costs) or require you to cover your own costs (food, travel, admission tickets) and are RSVP only.All events are first-come, first serve. For the latest details and capacity updates the day of events, be sure to follow us on Instagram.
REGULAR MEETUPS
| Event | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| November Meetup | Nov 23 | 2:30-4:30 PM | Heatwave Hot Yoga Belmar |
| December Meetup | Dec 10 | 7-9 PM | Marlboro Public Library |
| January Meetup | Jan TBC | 7-9 PM | Birdsmouth Brewing |
SIDE QUESTS
| Event | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookmark Making Workshop | Nov 7 | 7-9 PM | Fleur de Mer - Ocean Township |
| Bookish Bingo | Dec TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Onyx Storm Midnight Release Party | Jan TBC | TBC | Barnes & Noble Holmdel |