Club Crawl; Books & Vibes SDSU is where readers and dreamers thrive
Somewhere between back-to-back classes and constant scrolling, worlds of fighting dragons or meeting the love of your life on vacation feel far away. But at Books & Vibes SDSU, they come to life.
When Emma Brown stepped onto campus in 2023, she noticed something missing. While San Diego State University offers a library-based book club, there was no registered student organization centered around reading for fun, something she knew had to change. Alongside transfer student Mikayla Delleney, she created Books & Vibes SDSU.
Brown, now a third-year student and president of the club, has been involved since her freshman year and helped build Books & Vibes from the ground up. Alongside her is fourth-year Julia Serrano, who acts as the vice president and treasurer .
However, the nature of the meetings being in the middle of the day does not coincide with many potential members' schedules. That doesn’t stop Brown from reflecting opportunistically on how this affects the club's attendance.
“Every semester is always a different turnout of people,” she said. “But we definitely see a lot of similar faces throughout each semester, and I think the conversations definitely get more familiar over the course of each semester as everyone gets comfortable with each other.”
Each month, members agree on a theme. Then, over the next few days, officers suggest books and add them to a shared document, in which a vote is conducted. The top three to four books become their monthly reads, a process that ensures that every voice is heard.
In an increasingly digital age, reading is more accessible than ever. Members of the club use a mix of Kindles and physical copies to read.
“Reading is a great way to discover new worlds and perspectives,” Serrano said. “Even though it’s a solitary activity, we have held group reading sessions where people enjoy snacks and some time to work through their current read.”
There is, however, a moment every semester that offers a push in the revival of physical media in the form of a book swap. The only requirement: Bring a book you loved.
In December, Books & Vibes even turned it into a White Elephant Exchange, a perfect way to breathe new life into gift giving, while repurposing all at the same time.
Beyond the books however, is the community behind it.
“Half the fun of reading is in appreciating the spaces it creates, like bookstores and book clubs.” Serrano explained. “Since the start of the year, members have enjoyed time connecting with others on campus over a love of books and storytelling. Book clubs will always be important and valued because they share hobbies and interests with others.”
As Books & Vibes SDSU looks towards its next chapter, Brown emphasized consistency above all else.
“Honestly, my main goal is for us to keep doing what we're doing. I want this club to continue after I graduate next year, and I want us to keep gaining traction. I never had huge aspirations for us in the first place, so as long as we keep running smoothly and people are interested, then I'm happy where we're at.”
Books & Vibes meets biweekly on Thursdays at 1 p.m. to discuss any and all opinions on their current reads. In addition to scheduled meetings, Books & Vibes visit bookstores, libraries, movie screenings, and more.
As the academic school year comes to an end, Brown looks back at what she built with nothing but fulfillment.
“This is a big campus and we're not a big club,” She said. “But we're still here and we have brought together a community of people who wouldn't have otherwise found each other.”
For more information about Books & Vibes SDSU, visit @booksandvibessdsu
Written by: Katherine O’Connor
Cover Design by: Katherine O’Connor
