Librarians

You've seen them in the book shop. You've seen them in the library. You've seen them online. **The Blind Date with a Book.** Those shelves of wrapped books with little teasers written on them. This is the book trend perfect for Valentine's, and perfect for a swapping group like us! For this special event, please bring a wrapped book. On the front please write: * the language of the book * a few short bullet points about the book. Get as creative (or not) as you like, as long as it's a truthful description. I've seen fascinating paragraph versions and also one liners. * For example: "You will love this book if you love -similar author / general genre / band-singer the book reminded you of / actor who played the lead in the film / etc-". Other examples include writing the first line of the book. Or your favorite line of the book. Beside that, it's just similarly structured as the "classical" bookswap: * We put the book(s) we brought down on the tables. * Each book gets a post-it so people interested would write their names on. * We browse and discuss the books with one another while sipping coffee or hot chocolate, or eating cake. THIS TIME try to avoid naming the book and author. * We write our names down on any books we’d like to take home. * At the end of the evening, negotiate any books that are contended and take a new-to-you book home! I've mostly only seen the trend at book stores and Libraries and when I just Googled it, saw that a lot of people are totally tricking the wrapping out. Please don't bother going that far unless it would give you great pleasure. We'll have some newspaper / paper bags on hand if you don't have any wrapping. ***NOTE - this is NOT a person dating event.*** We tried that once as a very optional part of the event and it wasn't fair to the three confused people who were looking for people and not books. We know of at least one book swap marriage and several other book swap relationships so it happens organically without us pushing for it and making it all awkward :) Similar to our pleasant swapping post-it format, our expectations below apply to this event as well. We look forward to swapping with you! GROUP EXPECTATIONS for PLEASANT SWAPPING * Please bring a book! It's not that you bring one you take one, but do try your best to bring something. * Books stay on the tables, open for sharing, until you are ready to leave so that everyone can have a look. We are notably not first come first serve. Please wait until you are leaving to bag the book. * If two or more people want the only copy of a book, negotiate. Maybe one of you reads it first and then gives it to the others. Or perhaps they have found another book instead. Or leave it to fate and toss a coin. The best part: now you have found somebody whose taste you can really admire. In any case, please don't walk away with a book with several names on it without letting the others know. These negotiations are fun and easy, so don't shy away from a book because there's already a name on it, and feel free to put your name on as many books as you find interesting. It's not that you bring one you take one; you may take as many as you can negotiate. * Political discussions with consent: make sure the people you are talking to would like to have a political discussion with you. * Please respect this space as first and foremost a community for connecting readers over their love of books and reading, stories, and narratives of all sorts. Please be respectful of tastes and opinions. * If something is bothering you, please reach out to the organizers, and we'll do our best to resolve it. * Lastly, don't expect your book back. It will find a new home. If you love it, let it go. **Major LANGUAGES (and genres) of this meetup:** English, German, French, Spanish, Italian; Fiction, Non-Fiction, Serious Reading, Light Fun, “classics", Krimis, Booker winners, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Self-Help and more. You never know who can read what languages, and there's no accounting for taste. We are a delightful and international group of readers. We look forward to swapping with you!

Hei! Vineri, 13 februarie, punem la cale o nouă întâlnire! Dacă ești nou/ă: ne adunăm cam o dată pe lună la o bere și o poveste, să mai povestim, să schimbăm idei și să cunoaștem oameni noi din Berlin. O săptămână faină!

\*\*\*\*\*\* ***For address and more details see the website.*** \*\*\*\*\*\* **Event Info:** Bring along your **current book to read** (or something **creative** to work on 📚🎨🧵) and join us for this mix of a shared focus time + discussion. \- 19:00\-19:30 \- Meet & greet \- 19:30\-20:30 \- Silent focus time \- 20:30 \- Discussion of books/ projects over coffee **Drinks & snacks are included** ☕️ * **To reserve your place, a ticket (€9,90/event) or a community pass (only €14,90/MONTH) [from the website](www.pausify.org) is required** * **Attendance here doesn’t show all sign-ups from other platforms.** ***FAQ: Why does it cost money if I bring my own project?*** Because we rent a beautiful, central space for every event. Ever thought your monthly apartment rent was too high? Well, multiply that – that’s what commercial spaces in big cities like Berlin cost *per hour*. Of course, if all you want is just some quiet time, your home or a library is perfect. But if you’d like to focus & connect with others in an inspiring space – with drinks, snacks included – that’s what your ticket helps to cover. See pics from our events below - and on our Instagram: **[@Pausify (Co-Reading Space)](https://www.instagram.com/pausify_org/) ☕️**📚 **[Pausify Co-Reading Space Website](www.pausify.org/)** For questions, please contact us over [Website](www.pausify.org/) as this platform can have issues. Thank you! *Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event and used for promotional purposes to highlight and share the experiences at our events. If you have concerns, don't hesitate to approach the event organizers before the event.*

**👋 Hello Strangers! —** For all players and chess-curious folks out there who want to chill and make friends: We are hosting a daily chess meetup in Mitte / Prenzlauerberg welcoming all experience levels. It doesn't matter if you just watched the Queen's Gambit or if you have been playing regularly for years – join us Daily from 7pm till midnight. **Pics** · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/strangerchess/) / **Chat** · [Telegram](https://t.me/strangerchess) / **Web** · [Strangerchess.com](https://strangerchess.com/) (No need to bring anything, boards, clocks, etc. are provided)

The Heteroqueer Muslim Community is organizing its first event this Friday night. The event is primarily meant for Muslim heterosexual individuals who see themselves as unusual/unconventional in their sexuality, identity or way of being in some way. However, everyone else who want to learn about our community, connect or vibe are also welcome to join us for the evening. Feel free to bring your friends also. We will meet in front of Fotografiska Cafe, located at Oranienburger Straße (54) in Berlin, at 8 pm. If you arrive a little later, you may find us inside the cafe. Give me a call or send a WhatsApp message if you have trouble finding us (+49 176 887 430 55). It is required to order at least one drink at the cafe. Be informed that they only take payments by card (no cash payments). We recommend an elevated dress code. be yourself, be classy. The meetup will take place for two hours. Since it is a very central location, there are plenty of other places nearby to go after the meetup or travel to other destinations easily. We speak both English and German.

Join us at the famous 'House of music' Situated in the heart of Berlin's Thriving RAW close to Warschauer Str. It has been a thriving centre for musicians meetups, concerts, conferences and rehearsal rooms in the city for a long time! Space sessions is a weekly event hosted by Scottish touring musician James Michael Rodgers. The event has two featured acts, traditional 'hat' donation method, beautiful atmosphere and one of the best stages in Berlin. We want to connect with local and travelling artists, people who appreciate live music, tourists from all over the world as we can't wait to show the world our thriving music community! Berlin is not just techno! Whether you play an instrument, love attending concerts, or simply enjoy meeting new people, this group is for you! Come see a rich, organic event run by local musicians, discover new sounds, and immerse yourself in Berlin's rich culture and heritage. Let's create memorable experiences together through music, art, and community connection. Berlin is singing for you!

(Small group / intimate setting / Anmeldung empfholen) Valentinstag ist überall. Paare, Herzen, Konsum. **Und wenn du dieses Jahr etwas anderes willst?** Ein Raum zum Atmen. Ein Raum für Körper, Emotionen und Austausch. **Love as Verb** ist ein kleiner Workshop für Frauen\*, die sich selbst, ihre Beziehungen und ihr Begehren neu befragen wollen ohne Druck, ohne Vorkenntnisse. **Was dich erwartet:** Körper & Emotionen verbinden (sanft, freiwillig, angeleitet) Austausch & Reflexion in einem sicheren Raum Zeit für Selbstfürsorge, Verbindung und neue Perspektiven Für wen: **Für alle Frauen**\*, die • sich selbst an Valentinstag nicht verlieren wollen • Beziehung, Begehren und Selbstfürsorge hinterfragen möchten • einen ruhigen, stärkenden Raum suchen Kosten: 15- 20 € (Selbsteinschätzung) **Anmeldung:** diversitycompagnie@gmail.com **Leitung** Karina Villavicencio Künstlerin & Workshop-Leiterin mit Fokus auf Körperarbeit, Emotionen und feministische Praxis. Arbeitet seit vielen Jahren mit performativen, biografischen und kollektiven Formaten. 💛 **Valentinstag neu denken – als Care, als Praxis, als Handlung.**

Silent Book Club is a group of book lovers who enjoy reading together in public. All books and all readers are welcome. (Kindly RSVP 'yes' only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and our fellow readers on the waitlist!) This page-turning party will unfold in the Café (1st floor) at the Bode Museum. There's no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the cafe and don't bring any outside drinks :) No quizzes, no pressure, no assigned books - just a group of book-loving souls basking in the beauty of silent reading. **Our thrilling agenda:** 10:30 am - 11:00 am - Arrivals, ordering drinks/food (social time) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - The Great Quiet Reading Hour (where silence is the star) 12:00 pm - 13:00 pm - Optional socializing, share your reading adventures or just keep exploring the pages Stay for lunch, and who knows? You might just find your next favorite book over a pizza. NB: If you plan to go for lunch, please consider bringing cash, as some restaurants only accept card payments after a certain amount.

International Meetup for those who still like to follow the Peaceful teachings of Christ. We are free and curious humans, try to practice patience, kindness, humanity, etc, and have the freedom to read any book of the world, including the Gospels. Let's support each-other, upbuild faith, and find some like-minded friends in our community. (If you are a new believer, you are also welcome only if you have been practicing Christianity regularly for at least since last 3 years. )

Ciao a tutti! For our event we would like to meet you at 17:00 and have a beer all together, or other drinks. The goal of our first meeting is to get to know eachother and practice Italian and German. Please don’t be afraid that your language skills might not be sufficiently good or that you are a beginner. We understand that learning languages is a difficult and long journey. We don’t tolerate discrimination. We don't tolerate any aggressive or weird attitude. This has to be a Place of Comfort zone for everyone :) Please be respectful and kind with the others! PS: you can find us on the pool table area usually, if not just ask to the bar area for the reservation on the name "Claudio" A presto, bis bald Claudio Ich hoffe dass wir bald uns sehen!

Hi, dieses Mal besprechen wir „Karnak-Café“ von Nagib Machfus (1974) Hier der Link zum Inhalt und Buch : https://www.unionsverlag.com/info/title.asp?title_id=3934 Wir treffen uns diesmal im Café Chagall nahe U-Bahnhof Senefelder Platz. :)

Who is in the mood for some quiet togetherness while catching up on their reading? Let’s enjoy literature or non-fiction together and come to our Reading in Companionable Silence meeting on Saturday. While Nathania is away, Fady will welcome members and there is time to socialize and to order some food or a beverage - ca. 30 min. Then we read for an hour in silence. After that - time to exchange impressions, suggestions, ask questions and generally have a good time. There might be a break in the middle in order to allow for more drinks, a bathroom break etc.

Let's read together on another Sunday morning. Agenda: 10:30-11:00 Arrival, ordering drinks, getting to know each other 11:00-12:00 Reading together 12:00-13:00 Share reading experience There is no books assigned. Just bring whatever you are reading for now. Please sign up only when you can join the event. Hope you will enjoy it there!

**RSVP Available on luma:** https://luma.com/9a20skdx Silent Reading Club is a group of book lovers who enjoy reading together in public. All books and all readers are welcome. There's no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the cafe and don't bring any outside drinks :) No quizzes, no pressure, no assigned books - just a group of book-loving souls basking in the beauty of silent reading. **Our Agenda:** 10:30 am - 11:00 am - Arrivals, ordering drinks/food (social time) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - The Great Quiet Reading Hour (where silence is the star) 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm - Optional socializing, share your reading adventures, or just keep exploring the pages

Join us for our February Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *A Master of Djinn* by P. Djèlí Clark in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

Ciao a tutt\*! Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the **Columbus Public Library (Northside Branch)** in **Meeting Room 2** to speak in Italian for 1 hour. \*Note the change in location this week due to no space the Upper Arlington library.\* Keeping Monday for consistency but we can discuss if there are better days/times/locations! Perhaps we can do two times a week as well. TBD.

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

This month we’ll be reading Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan