Smitten Collectibles and Nerdy Treasures owner Susan Chalmers started a book club called the Smitten Mage Guild in October 2017 to encourage kids to read. Almost a year later, the club has more than 130 members. (Maia Zewert photo)
Over the past year, Smitten Collectibles and Nerdy Treasures owner Susan Chalmers has been encouraging young readers through a book club that offers gift certificates to her store.
Chalmers began the book club, the Smitten Mage Guild, in October 2017. As a mage is a magician, the book club was named the Mage Guild “because reading is magic,” Chalmers said.
“Our family’s rule is, you have to read it before you watch it,” Chalmers said. “So one day I had a customer who was very excited about the ‘American Gods’ show that was coming out. I asked if they had read the book and they hadn’t, so I ran inside to get it.”
When the customer returned having finished the book and developed a love for author Neil Gaiman, Chalmers got the idea to start the book club.
“We ended up talking for a long time just about different characters and what they liked about the book, and it was a great time,” Chalmers said. “One of the best parts about having the store is talking about nerdy stuff with customers, and by having the club, I get to do more of that.”
Smitten Mage Guild is open to children under the age of 16. After signing up for the club, each member is given a packet containing a welcome letter, a bookmark, a guild pin, and a guild card to track their books. Members can read any book, and books read with families or for school count, Chalmers said.
The sign for the Smitten Mage Guild book club outside Smitten Collectibles and Nerdy Treasures, at 2 Hodgdon St. in Damariscotta. (Maia Zewert photo)
“It’s not a club where I tell you what to read. You get to pick and choose what you’re interested in,” Chalmers said.
Guild members are allowed to log one book per week. In order for the book to count, they must go into the store and tell Chalmers about what they read, which is her favorite part of the experience. Chalmers asks the kids questions about the book, including how the book made them feel and what characters they related to.
“It’s very interesting to see what they focus in on. There are kids who start very formally, like it’s a book report, but as they get going, they just loosen up and start gushing about the characters and the choices they made,” Chalmers said. “It’s interesting to see them open up in this new way.”
Lincoln Academy freshman Alice Skiff, one of the guild members, said the reports to Chalmers are one of her favorite parts of the program.
“It’s nice to have the face-to-face time talking about the books,” Alice said.
After logging 10 books, guild members get to trade their completed card in for a $10 gift certificate to the store. Some members, like Alice, are saving their gift certificates for a big purchase.
“I like that I get to do something fun like reading and I get paid for it,” Alice said. “It’s like I have a job, but I’m doing something I really love.”
The Smitten Mage Guild has more than 130 members from Lincoln County and beyond, including in places like Massachusetts; Tulsa, Okla.; and San Francisco, Calif. Members “from away” can log their books through a Facebook page Chalmers set up for the club.
“I don’t see a need to limit the club,” Chalmers said. “As many kids that want to be a part of it can join. If they want to come in and tell me about books, I’m happy to dole out rewards. Anything we can do to encourage kids to read!”
Chalmers’ passion for reading makes the book club enjoyable for members, Alice’s mother, Linda Skiff, said.
“She makes it really fun, and she’s always really interested in what the kids have to say,” Linda Skiff said. “Just the fact that she’s enthusiastic makes them excited about it. Her energy is just that infectious.”
For more information or to sign up for the Smitten Mage Guild, visit the store at 2 Hodgdon St. in Damariscotta. The Facebook page for the guild can be found at facebook.com/mageguildreadingclub.
