閱讀是通往知識殿堂的道路，是學習的基石，藉由閱讀，能夠擴展眼界，活躍思考。世界各地正如火如荼推廣閱讀，公共圖書館在推廣閱讀上更是不遺餘力，藉由舉辦不同的活動鼓勵民眾培養閱讀習慣，讓民眾親近文字，享受閱讀的樂趣。近年來，為了提升民眾英語閱讀的興趣，增加英語討論的機會，公共圖書館陸續舉辦不少英語讀書會，讓參與者能夠以英語資源為媒介，討論與分享不同的看法。 本研究透過問卷調查法與訪談法了解臺北市立圖書館成人英語讀書會實施現況，並歸納讀書會成員、帶領人以及圖書館讀書會業務負責館員之看法，發現成人英語讀書會之運作特色與遭遇困境，進而分析成人英語讀書會之成效。最後歸納相關文獻與研究結果，提出辦理英語讀書會之具體建議，期望作為日後公共圖書館辦理英語讀書會之參考。 調查結果顯示，成人英語讀書會成員以50歲～59歲的女性參與者為主，職業以家庭主婦居多，但與演講協會合作之讀書會較為特殊，無家庭主婦參與，而以上班族為多。教育程度上，以大專院校畢業者佔多數，而擁有研究所以上學歷者為讀書會的第二大族群。成員參與讀書會的動機為：增加英語表達能力、增廣見聞、拓展閱讀範圍，與喜愛閱讀等。 臺北市立圖書館成人英語讀書會運作特色有：一、學習方式生活化，讓英語更貼近生活；二、報章雜誌、短篇文章為主要的閱讀材料；三、研討的主題呈現多元的風貌，從休閒娛樂、文學、科技、時事新聞、醫療保健、教育、語言學習，到全球性議題；四、以英語歌曲為主之研討深受歡迎，使得原本以閱讀書籍、文章為主軸的討論型態逐漸轉變；五、圖書館英語志工加入英語讀書會，以其專業來協助讀書會之運作。 臺北市立圖書館支援成人英語讀書會的角色可分為主辦與間接推廣，前者是由圖書館自辦英語讀書會，後者是圖書館提供英語讀書會硬體空間與設備之援助。整體來看，圖書館對成人英語讀書會之支援包括：定期辦理帶領人培訓課程；透過網站或電子報、文宣刊物、出版品、海報來行銷成人英語讀書會；於館內展示讀書會成員作品；建置線上「心得分享區」與「線上讀書會」供讀書會成員討論；此外，亦提供「鼓勵讀書會購書優惠」方案，讀書會成員依此管道購買書籍可享有折扣的優惠。 在使用圖書館英語資源與服務方面，未參與成人英語讀書會前，約半數成員未曾使用圖書館英語資源與服務，他們找尋資料的管道主要為網路與自己的藏書。參與英語讀書會後，將近七成的讀書會成員因為讀書會的緣故而更常接觸圖書館，進而利用圖書館英語館藏與服務，資源使用上，則以英語圖書、英語報章雜誌與英語參考工具書被使用的情況較多。同時，有將近八成的讀書會成員平均每個月增加1～3冊館藏借閱量。 參與成員肯定英語讀書會對己身的幫助，例如能夠吸收最新的資訊與專業知識，也能增進國際視野，且經由成員的意見交流與分享，了解每個人不同的思考點，無形中擴展了個人的思考面向。成員英語能力也因為參與英語讀書會而有所提升，尤其是英語會話與聽力。除此之外，自信與勇氣的增加與人際關係的拓展也是成員認為參與讀書會的收穫。成員對成人英語讀書會在各方面之滿意度均呈現不錯的表現，以「讀書會的團體氣氛」與「帶領人的領導」滿意度最高。 研究發現，臺北市立圖書館成人英語讀書會遭遇之困難包括：一、圖書館英語資源無法滿足成人英語讀書會之需求；二、雖然有英語志工的加入，但英語讀書會帶領人才仍非常欠缺；三、成員聚會前的準備與積極性仍需加強。 最後，針對成人英語讀書會之舉辦提出幾點建議供相關單位參考。從圖書館的角度來看，普及舉辦英語讀書會、辦理英語讀書會帶領人培訓課程、充實英語館藏、英語館藏數位化、加強行銷圖書館英語資源與服務、安排英語專題演講、發行英語讀書會刊物、建置線上英語讀書會網站、持續評估成人英語讀書會辦理情形等，都是未來辦理成人英語讀書會可努力之方向。英語讀書會參與成員則可朝向：共同擬定讀書會內部規範、加強積極參與活動、適時提出回饋與建議等方向努力之。 / Reading is the way to knowledge and also the foundation of learning. We can broaden our horizons and activate the thinking through reading. Reading promotion is held worldwide; the public libraries go to great lengths to promote reading especially. Different reading activities are held to encourage the public to develop reading habits and enjoy the reading. In order to elevate the public’s English reading habits and increase the discussion opportunities, public libraries have held lots of English study circles in recent years. The group participants can discuss and share different opinions through English materials. This study adopts questionnaire and interview approach to investigate the status quo of adult English study circles in Taipei public library. Through the ideas and opinions from the group members, leaders and librarians in charge of the study circles, the study will discover the operation characteristics and difficulties English study circles encountered. Further, analyzing the effectiveness of adult English study circles. Finally, the study will provide some suggestions for holding adult English study circles after concluding literatures and study results. According to the study results, female members aged from 50 to 59 years are the primary participants in adult English study circles.The most participants are housewives. However, the members’ main career in the study circles which the library cooperates with Toastmasters International is office worker. As concerned about education background, most members have college degrees. Members have master degrees are the second largest group in adult English study circles. Besides loving reading, members’ participation motives are to increase English expressing ability, to broaden their horizons, to extend the lust of reading, etc. The operation characteristics of adult English study circles in Taipei public library are described as follows: (1)Members can use English in their daily life. (2)English books are not the main reading materials. Instead, many groups use journals.(3)The topics of discussion are divergent, including entertainment, literature, science and technology, current events, medical and health care, education, language learning, and global issues.(4)English song–centered discussion is popular. The discussion pattern has been changing gradually from discussing books and short articles to song-centered symposium. (5)Library English volunteers are engaged in English study circles and use their professional specialty to assist the group operation. The roles of Taipei public library on holding adult English study circles can be divided into auspices and indirect outreach. In the former case, the library hosts the English study circles. In the latter case, the library offers English study circles the place and facilities. On the whole, the library’ supplies include (1)holding regular leader training curricula, (2)propagandizing English study circles through websites, e-paper, publications, and posters, (3)displaying the members’ works in the library, (4)building websites “online reflection sharing” and “online study circles,” and (5)providing purchasing proposal for study circles. As far as library English resources and services concerned, about one half group members never use library English resources and services before participating in the English study circles. They surf the net and use their own collections to find the materials. After participating English study circles, about 70 percent group members go to library more often and they also use English collections and services in the library. English books, newspapers, magazines and reference books are more often used. Besides, nearly 80 percent group members increase documents on loan per capita on the average of 1 to 3 volumes per month. Group members affirm the benefits of taking part in English study circles. For example, they can get latest information, learn professional knowledge, and broaden their visions. Through sharing the opinions, they can learn different thinking from others. After participating in the English study circles, members’ English ability have improved, especially conversation and listening. In addition, self-confidence, courage, and interpersonal relationships are also the benefits. Group members think the performances of English study circles are good in all respects. Among all the performances, members are most satisfied with group atmosphere and leader’s guidance. The study shows the difficulties that adult English study circles have encountered. They include (1) library English collections can’t satisfy group leaders, (2) English group leaders are still going short, and (3) members should have more preparation and initiative. Finally, the study brings up some suggestions about holding adult English study circles. From the library’s perspective, holding more English study circles, running study circle leaders training curricula, increasing English collections, digitalizing English collections, advertising English collections and services, publishing English publications, building online English study circles websites, and keeping on evaluating adult English study circles are some ways libraries can work in the future. With regard to the members, they can draw up the group interior rules, participating in activities more actively, and raise questions or make suggestions at anytime.