At its most rudimentary level, reading is a solitary pursuit. It's just you, the words, ideas, the author and maybe a pair of reading glasses.

But reading can be more fun when enjoyed together. The experience of reading can be enhanced by sharing it with others.

"It depends on the book, but I think reading is mostly personal," said Katy Basile, who's been the adult services manager at Manheim Township Public Library (MTPL) for three years. "Some books have a lot of meta-analysis going on. It ties into a lot of discussions, especially for books you feel strongly about. Having someone else's perspective makes you go back to think about it more. But you always end up with your own experience of reading a book."

The adult services department oversees a monthly book discussion group at MTPL, which is located at 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster, and is part of the Overlook Community Campus. Members of the book club read an assigned selection on their own, at their own pace and leisure, and then gather as a group at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month for a lively, moderated conversation about the book.

"It's a discussion, and sometimes you have to cut the discussion short, or (the group members) will go on," said Basile, who occasionally serves as a moderator. "You can often tie the current book selection to something else they've read. Some people just like to hear the discussion. It's really fun. They're a group with diverse viewpoints and different political views. They've been meeting with each other long enough to feel comfortable speaking their minds."

In July, the MTPL book discussion group read "The Message" by Ta-Nehisi Coates. In August, the club is scheduled to read "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel.

The MTPL book discussion group's unofficial motto is summed up by a quote often attributed to C.S. Lewis: "We read to know we are not alone."

"Very basically, the purpose is to bring people together over a shared interest, which is obviously reading," said Basile. "It provides a place where people can meet others, discuss and keep learning. (Members are) very engaged. They've gotten to know each other very well."

The decision on which book the group will read each month is ultimately made by Basile and other members of the library staff based on a number of factors, including the availability of the book. But the members of the book club do offer some input during the selection process.

"The library helps plan the books we read," said Basile. "There's a lot of investment in the books we read. Because we have such a good rapport with each other, we want to be intentional about it. We try to make it as friendly to as many people as possible. (The members) submit suggestions, and it can be literally anything. There's always a mix of memoirs, classics, contemporary fiction, historical fiction and nonfiction."

Currently, about 20 members, mostly individuals who reside in Manheim Township, are involved with the book discussion group.

"I think they're all curious, empathetic people," said Basile. "I think a lot of them have something on their minds after reading the books. The attendees make the book club. You can put as much thought into as you want, but there's no book club without people."

The book discussion group has been meeting at MTPL for at least 25 years. The book club is a natural extension of the adult services department and simply a product of the role that the library plays in the Manheim Township community.

"I like to do programs and services with a larger goal in mind," said Basile, a resident of Lancaster city. "Any kind of discussion group is about fostering community and providing an activity where people don't have to spend money. What's special about a library is you're often meeting people you wouldn't expect to."

"There aren't a lot of opportunities to meet people," she continued. "I think it is so important that there's a group that, even though the members know they're different, can come together every month, have discussions and keep a mini community going."

For additional information, including how to join the book discussion group, go to https://mtpl.info.