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Alumni Association Virtual Book Club
Brought to you by PBC Guru
Join the UMD Alumni Virtual Book Club to connect with fellow Terps and continue learning. Enjoy books on business, communications, leadership, productivity, fiction, leisure and more.
How it Works
We have partnered with PBC Guru to create virtual book clubs for alumni! The clubs will connect through private forums where all participants can discuss the current books and network with each other. Joining is FREE – You’ll just need to get a copy of the book (one book every two months) to enjoy.
Sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities
Our Fiction and Literature Book Club will enjoy novels and literature across a range of genres, authors and cultures based on participant interests. If your favorite type of book is one that lets you see the world in new perspective then this book club is for you!
Sponsored by the Smith School of Business
Our Management and Leadership Book Club will enjoy books and discussion related to business, communication, management, innovation, leadership and more. If you want to advance your career and network with other business-minded Terps then this book club is for you!
Why Join?
Here are three great reasons to participate in one of our alumni book clubs:
- Connect With Fellow Terps: Learn and grow with fellow alumni and friends to improve your professional network.
- Develop Your Skills: Reading improves intelligence and reasoning ability and has been linked to reducing the chance of Alzheimer's.
- Boost Your Career: The books you read may increase your effectiveness in leadership, communication, and productivity, while the network you build in a book club may help you with career advice, introduce you to new people and find your next job.
FAQs
How often will books be read, what is the time commitment and what are the expectations?
Each club will read one book every two months, and each book will take an average of six hours to read. If members of this virtual community are particularly busy with work, family or other obligations and can't read or finish a book, that’s OK. The goal of this program is simply to connect Maryland alumni through relevant, interesting topics.
Will the book clubs hold in-person meetings?
The book clubs will be online so people can participate anywhere in the world. Interested members can form reading groups based on geography in order to have in-person discussions with fellow Terps.
Is there any cost to participate? How do I get the books?
Participation is free for alumni! You are responsible for getting a copy of the book to read or listen to—consider borrowing from your local library.
How do book club discussions work?
Each book club will have a moderator who manages the online discussions. The moderator will pose questions to the group, share relevant articles and encourage conversation about topics in the book. Members will be able to post and share as well. This format allows for ongoing conversation and makes it easy for alumni to connect with each other.
What exactly is PBC Guru and what does it have to do with the Alumni Book Clubs?
Professional Book Club (PBC) Guru is a company founded by two University of Maryland alumni to help businesses implement and manage professional reading programs. The University of Maryland is teaming up with PBC to put this program in place for alumni.
What if my question isn't answered?
Please email any additional questions to info@pbc.guru.