Join a Group

Groups provide access to studies in BookFellows. This guide explains how to join groups and manage your group memberships.

Understanding Groups

Groups are your gateway to studies in BookFellows. When you join a group, you gain access to all studies released to that group through the Library.

Key points:

• Groups are often organized around communities (churches, book clubs, organizations)
• Each group may have zero to many studies that have been released to it
• All members of a group have access to all studies released to the group
• You can join a group to access its studies
• When you leave a group, you lose access to its studies
• Studies appear in your Library automatically based on your group memberships
• You can start solo studies or start classes with any group study

Your Library is determined by group membership

The studies available in your Library depend entirely on which groups you’ve joined and which studies have been released to those groups.

Group Roles

Group Manager:

• Creates and manages the group
• Can add, update and remove members
• Has full control over group settings
• Can transfer management to another BookFellows member

Group managers do not have to be members

It is not required that the manager of a group must also be a member or leader in that group. This may be the case where one individual is administering several groups or subgroups where they don’t need to be members or leaders.

Group Member:

• Has access to studies released to the group
• Can join classes
• Can leave anytime

Group Leader:

• Has all functions of a regular member (see above)
• Helps support the group
• May facilitate discussions or be a leadership point of contact

Multiple Group Memberships

You can be a member of multiple groups:

Advantages:

• Access studies from all your groups
• Different groups for different interests
• Church group + book club + work group
• Broader study library
• More opportunities to study and engage with others

Prerequisites

You just need to join BookFellows and log in.

Join a Group

How you become involved with groups to access their studies.

Currently, there are two ways to join a group:

1. Use a group code (self-service)
2. The manager adds you to the group (manual approval required)

Limited paths available to join a group

Right now, the only way one can be added to group is through a code that has been shared or the manager manually adding you. We are considering adding other options such as enabling group invitations and requests. However, at present, we want to keep group membership fully under the control of the group manager.

Join by Group Code

Use a group code to join. This is the most common method.

Use the group code:

1. Someone may have sent a group code to you
2. If not, you can ask the manager for the code
3. Codes are usually shared via email, text, or announcements
4. Codes are typically 6-12 characters
5. May be case-sensitive

Enter the code:

1. Navigate to Groups from the main menu
2. Click Join a Group
3. Enter the group code carefully
4. Click Join Group

What happens:

• You are instantly added to the group with no approval required
• Your role is defaulted to Member. (The manager can change this later if needed.)
• Studies released to the group will immediately appear in your Library

Benefits of group codes:

• Quick and easy to join
• Enables self-service joining
• Good for large organisations
• No need to wait for an invitation

Manager Adds You to the Group

In this case, the manager just adds you to the group either on their own or at your request.

What happens:

• You are instantly added to the group
• No approval needed (if group allows code joins)
• You are assigned as a member of the group
• Studies released to the group will immediately appear in your Library

After Joining

Explore your new group:

1. Navigate to Groups
2. Select the group you just joined and open the card
3. View the members of the group through the Members tab
4. View the studies available to the group through the Studies tab
5. View the attachments available to the group through the Attachments tab

Access group studies:

1. Go to My Library
2. See new studies available to you from your new group
3. Click any study to preview
4. Start a solo study or create a class

Leave a Group

Remove yourself from a group when you no longer need access.

Before You Leave

Consider the impact:

You will lose:

• Access to group studies in your Library
• Ability to create new classes from the group’s released studies

You will keep:

• Studies you’re currently doing (solo or class)
• Your progress and answers in active studies
• Ability to complete active classes
• Your BookFellows account

Alternatives to leaving:

• Stay in group but don’t actively participate
• Ask the manager to change your role if leadership is a burden
• Take a break without leaving
• Rejoin later if you change your mind

You accept invitations to studies that are not in your Library

There may be cases where you have left a group and can no longer access a particular study from your library. However, if you receive an invitation to a study that is not in your library, you can still accept it and join the class.

Leave as a Group Member or Leader

If you’re not the group manager:

Use the Leave option:

1. Navigate to Groups
2. Open the card for the group you want to leave
3. Click the action menu (⋮) and select Leave
4. Confirm you want to leave

What happens immediately:

• Removed from group member list
• Group studies removed from your Library
• Active studies and classes continue

Notification:

• Group manager may be notified
• Other members may see you’ve left
• No announcement by default

If you are the manager and no longer want to be…

You do this by transferring management to another member. This is described in the Manage a Group guide.

Best Practices

For Joining Groups

Choose groups carefully:

• Join groups relevant to your interests
• Consider your available time
• Think about long-term membership
• Don’t over-commit to too many groups

Explore before committing:

• Preview group description
• Ask about study topics
• Understand expectations
• Check meeting/class schedule

Get up to speed:

• Browse available studies
• Join or create classes
• Participate actively

For Leaving Groups

Leave thoughtfully:

• Consider why you’re leaving
• Communicate with group manager if appropriate
• Be aware that you can always re-join later if you change your mind

Next Steps

Choose your path forward:

Select a Study from the Library Browse your group's studies and choose what interests you

Start a Solo Study Begin studying independently at your own pace

Start a Class Create a class to study with others in your group

Manage a Group Learn how to create and manage groups

Need help? Contact support at rich@bookfellows.net