Book Discussions
The North Dakota State Library offers book discussions for state employees. These book clubs focus on leadership topics, approaching change in the workplace and adaptation to change as well as discussions on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Our book discussions are open for all participants to engage openly as much or as little as they feel comfortable with sharing. The best book discussions happen when the moderator just steers the conversation and allows the discussion to flow and ebb with the participants. Even if you have not finished reading the book, please still come to the discussion. You still have something to add to the conversation.
Once registered, we will send out a copy of the book to you through inside mail or mail it to your home. If you live in the Bismarck/Mandan area, you can also pick up your copy of the book at the State Library. When you are ready to return a book discussion book, there are several options. You can send it back inside mail, you can drop it off at the State Library, either in one of our book-drops or in person, or you can mail it back.
For more information, contact the Outreach Specialist at (701) 328-4661 or ndsltrain@nd.gov.
State Agency Leadership Book Titles
The North Dakota State Library has been providing state employees with the opportunity to participate in book clubs since 2020. We would like to extend this opportunity to state agencies who wish to host a book discussion among their own staff. Our leadership book club collection is now available for state agencies to borrow and conduct their own book discussion, ideal for a division or work group looking for something different for professional development. Titles and number of copies we currently are listed below.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear (11 copies)
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. By Brene Brown (12 copies)
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: How to Use EQ to Build Strong Relationships and Thrive in your Career by Mark Craemer (11 copies)
Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni (10 copies)
Inclusion: Diversity, The New Workplace, & the Will to Change by Jennifer Brown (12 copies)
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek (15 copies)
Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace by John C. Maxwell (12 copies)
Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus: How to Get Big Things Done in YOUR Workshop...All Year Long by Eric Harvey (12 copies)
Making Numbers Count: The Art & Science of Communicating Numbers by Chip Heath & Karla Starr (11 copies)
The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey (15 copies)
Sticking Points: How to Get 5 Generations Working Together in the 12 Places They Come Apart by Haydn Shaw (12 copies)
Stop Decorating the Fish: Which Solutions to Ignore and Which Problems Really Matter by Kristen Cox and Yishai Ashlag (11 copies) paired with The World of Decorating the Fish
Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath (11 copies)
The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace by Lindsey Pollak (12 copies)
Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in your Work and in your Life by Spencer Johnson (12 copies)
If your staff needs more copies, we can help get them copies through interlibrary loan. If there is a title that you would like to read as a group and discuss, we can get copies for your agency. If you can’t find someone to lead the discussion, the North Dakota State Library can provide a staff member who can lead the book club. If you have any questions about borrowing our book club kits or would like to talk about it, contact the Outreach Specialist at (701) 328-4661 or ndsltrain@nd.gov.