It’s reading for a reason.

The Alumni Association, in conjunction with the Spiva Library committee, is launching a new program. Literary Lions is a campus-style book club for alumni, faculty, students and friends. To kick off this program, the group is starting with the book Jane Eyre by Charlotte BrontÃ. Dr. Patricia Murphy, assistant professor of English, will moderate this group.

“I volunteered to do it because I felt it would be a good opportunity,” Murphy said. “And I was very familiar with the book.”

For a $25 donation, members receive a Java discount card, a journal and pen, bookmark and snacks at each of the meetings. They also receive a copy of the book to read, and, in turn, the individual copies of the book will be donated back to the Spiva Library.

“This is an indirect way of putting new books into the Spiva Library,” said Lee Pound, Alumni director.

“I knew it was going to help out the library,” said Bridget Siler-Osen, an alumni of Southern.

The group had its first meeting Sept. 18, where Murphy spoke on important things to look for in the book, character analysis and led intriguing and interesting discussions.

“I am very enthusiastic about this project,” Murphy said.

Siler-Osen is looking forward to Literary Lions.

“It’s an opportunity to get out of the house and use my brain a little more,” she said.

With a 1-year-old, Siler-Osen has little brain stimulation outside of “Blues Clues.”

This is an opportunity for barriers between student and faculty to be lowered and also a chance to help the library.

The Literary Lions met in the University Java coffee shop on the bottom floor of Spiva Library. By Oct. 23, the group will have read the book and will have group discussion. A few weeks later on Nov. 6, is movie night. The group will have popcorn and watch the movie Jane Eyre. Then, the members will discuss some of the similarities and variances between the book and the movie.

“We are anticipating 12 at our first meeting,” Pound said.

For information about the next book reading, contact the alumni office at 625-9355.