Members of the Books and Banter club enjoy the community of fellow readers in a fun and safe space. PHOTO COURTESY OF BOOKS AND BANTER
Katelyn Auty
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Book-loving Marauders now have a space to get together and discuss their love of reading. Books and Banter is a new club on campus, founded in November 2024.
“Books and Banter welcomes all people of all reading levels, even those who are just exploring,” explains Emily Lion, the club’s vice president.
The club started as a flippant remark, a silly idea between coworkers. Lion and Nelian Cruz, the club’s president, got to talking about books one day during their shift together and joked about starting a book club at Millersville. Though both Lion and Cruz didn’t mean the idea seriously, Lion later brought up the idea again on a serious note. Their coworker, Chloe Kissinger, overheard this discussion and offered her input, also offering to join the board, later becoming the secretary.
“With their motivation and with the intent of creating a safe space where readers can connect and share a love for reading I got started on the process of making Books and Banter an official student org,” shared Cruz.
Books and Banter is a club open to all people, no matter what you read or how you read it.
“Whether you’re a Kindle reader, physical book reader, audiobook listener, someone who doesn’t read but wants to try, or even someone who stopped reading but wants to get back into it; you can join the club,” said Cruz.
The club’s temporary status means they are holding many events to raise funding for the organization. They will be holding a shortened Read Across America Day in the SMC commuter’s lounge on March 3 and 7 p.m.
Books and Banter’s big event coming up is their donation-based used book sale, happening in the SMC Atrium on March 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and March 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Small business bookstore owners will also be tabling on March 24 to help promote their business. They are accepting donations for the sale, which include books of any reading level and textbooks, until March 21. Those looking to donate can contact any member of the board or in the donation box in the Campus Life Lounge.
Books and Banter meets Mondays at 7 p.m. in SMC room 202. The location is subject to change depending on space capacity. For updates on meetings and upcoming events, follow Books and Banter on Instagram @booksandbanter.mu