Teams from 23 public libraries compete
First place winners: Red Hook Public Library (Photo by Ginny Figlia)
The “Re(a)ds,” representing Red Hook Public Library, took first place on Sept. 6, when they became the champions of the 10th Annual Battle of the Books competition at Columbia Greene Community College in Hudson, New York. After competing for five hours, there were some tense moments as the last three teams “battled” it out. Staatsburg Library’s team, “The Rainbow Sour Patch Kids,” took second place, and Kinderhook Memorial Library’s team, “Miss Amy’s Library for Peculiar Children,” came in third.
Twenty-three public libraries throughout the Mid-Hudson Library System’s five counties (Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia, Ulster and Greene) competed in this literature contest in which young teens, grades six through nine, answer trivia questions based on books they have read during the summer. Over 400 students, librarian/coaches, and families gathered at the college as teams played in the Bracketed Double Elimination competition.
The program is co-sponsored by Columbia Greene Community College. Volunteers and families who supported the teams, and coaches/librarians who worked throughout the year made this event possible. Hannaford Supermarket supplied teams with bottled water. Fiscal supporters include The Allstate Foundation through the Sorrentino Agency in the Town of Newburgh, Stewart’s Shops, Grinnell Public Library District, and donations from various library Friends Groups. In October the Mid-Hudson Libraries converge to begin plans for the 11th Annual Battle of the Books.
