Reilly O’Neill, Reporter
@RONeillCourant
With the rise of technology in our society, utilizing it to connect people with one another is also becoming increasingly important. At NCHS, personal devices are being integrated into class, and social media sites like twitter being used to get assignments from teachers. Outside of mainstream learning, this new use of technology is being integrated into extracurricular activities.
One such activity is the Somewhat Virtual Book club, which is run by Michelle Luhtala and Junior Anjali Parmar. The club is like any other book club, but with a twist. “SWVBC clubs from schools in other states around the country meet together in real time via Google Hangouts to participate in our book club discussion,” Michelle Luhtala, Chairman of the Library Department and faculty advisor for the club said.
The club, started in 2011 by two librarians from Iowa and Pennsylvania, is based off of a principle of connection and encouraging kids to read. Ms Luhtala, upon hearing of this new idea, became interested. “New Canaan High School joined shortly after, and the first discussion took place in the spring of 2012, said Ms. Luhtala. “The club has met monthly ever since.”
In addition to Google Hangouts, the club uses social media to connect with authors. “We invite authors via email and/or Twitter using the #SWVBC, and sometimes, they join us. We’ve had Libba Bray, Lauren Myracle, and last month, Leslye Walton,” Ms. Luhtala said.
The club’s president, Anjali Parmar hopes to expand their interaction with authors. “I hope to really expand that and continue with getting people involved in the development of the books to join us,” junior Anjali Parmar said.
While the club is small now, Ms. Luhtala and Anjali hope to grow the numbers. “ Our NCHS book club is pretty small. There were years (2008-2010) when we boasted 17 regular participants in our monthly discussions,” Ms. Luhtala said. “Unfortunately, our numbers have dropped and we have only four active members. It seems as though this club ought to appeal to more students than that.”
Anjali agreed upon the need for new members. “I really want to try and add new people to the club, to show that books aren’t dead,” she said, “I know way more people in the high school read than the members in our club, and I really want to spread the love of books through the school.”
