IF YOU like the idea of belonging to a book club but find it difficult to get out and about you're an ideal candidate for The Reading Company.

Monmouthshire Libraries, Care & Repair Monmouthshire and Bridges Community Connections Befriending Project have joined forces to launch a free telephone book club.

The aim is to use telephone conferencing to provide all the benefits of book club membership without having to step outside your front door.

The club is likely to appeal to those who are housebound, disabled, living in an isolated rural area or would benefit from a befriending service.

The libraries in Abergavenny, Monmouth, Caldicot and Chepstow each have a trained facilitator who will set up the groups, distribute the reading list, arrange for the delivery of books and 'chair' the conferencing calls to ensure that everyone gets their chance to contribute to the discussion.

Julie Warburton at Abergavenny library explained, "We're aiming to have eight people in each group. As soon as people sign up we'll get things underway by sending out a book list and finding out what the majority would like to read."

The libraries already have group sets of books – with ten copies of each title, all available in large print.

There's a wide range of fiction and non-fiction to choose from – including authors like M.C. Beaton, Iris Gower and Nora Roberts.

Other books could be added to the list by popular demand.

"We already have a delivery service for customers who are housebound so we'll use that to distribute books to members of the new club," Julie explained.

"The conferencing facility will be set up by BT. The operator will call members of the group at an arranged time to start the session and give a five-minute warning before the end.

"The frequency of the conference calls will be determined by club members themselves."

The project is being funded by the Lottery, Monmouthshire County Council and Monmouthshire Care & Repair.

For more details or to sign up call Julie at Abergavenny Library on 01873 735980.