When the GB movement began in the mid 1940s, people met at public libraries across the country. Gradually though, most groups gravitated to private homes. This initially occurred as a matter of convenience, probably in order to avoid problems such as difficulty in securing a library meeting room.
Furthermore, meeting in private homes provided something else: an opportunity to enjoy a dessert, coffee or tea with the discussion. Eating and drinking in meeting rooms were prohibited in nearly all public libraries at that time. The GB meetings in private homes were not open to the public for obvious reasons. At best, the membership numbers in these private gatherings remained stagnant, and more likely the numbers dwindled over time. Ultimately the rigorous, academic Great Books discussion conducted in a private setting gradually devolved into a purely social gathering.
Once the groups moved to private homes, it was a matter of only a few years before they died out. There were dozens of Great Books groups in the Cleveland area in the 1940s. In less than ten years, though, nearly all had stopped meeting.
The Great Books Group of Greater Cleveland always conducted the discussions in a public library, albeit three different libraries during its lifetime. The discussions were — and are — open to the public. Participants can join in one or all of the discussions on the schedule. There is no sign up, no request for a commitment.
Lois, a charter member and administrator of our Great Books group, personally witnessed the disintegration of other area GB groups in the 1950s and 1960s. During my “apprenticeship” with her, Lois stressed two rules for any successful Great Books Group: 1) meetings must be conducted in a public library, and 2) meetings must be open to the public. Adherence to these rules ensures our continuing success as a 77 year old Great Books group that provides an intellectually challenging discussions for many more years.