Erie County students in grades 6-12 can form a team for the library’s March 5, 2027 reading showdown
Prepare thy bookmark; Erie County Public Library just opened registration for Battle of the Books! Round up your readers and create a team for this annual event.
This article is sponsored by the Erie County Public Library.
What is the Battle of the Books?
An exciting regional reading competition that gives students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 the opportunity to work as a team, discover amazing books, and have fun together. Teams divide and conquer the recreational reading list to prepare for a county-wide one-day Battle of the Books where teams participate in trivia style questions to earn the most points. Top-scoring teams win bookish prizes and supreme bragging rights.
The reading list comes from a variety of sources, with one goal: the books should be fun to read! Books are not chosen for academic merit and won’t be dissected; this competition is all about sparking reading joy.
➡️ Find more information about Battle of the Books.
When is it?
Battle of the Books occurs on March 5, 2027, at the Blasco Library in downtown Erie. This library location is closed to the public for exclusive use by Battle of the Books teams. Students will attend quiz matches and enjoy a day at the library in between, with open browsing, custom activities, and lots of fun with other readers.
What do I do now?
Teams must register by December 20, then work through their division’s reading list. Every book will be quizzed, so the more readers per team that have read a book, the more chances a team has to score points. Each team will create their own study schedule, and participants are encouraged to meet regularly to discuss their reads leading up to the Battle of the Books.
How do I make a team?
Battle of the Books is open to all Erie County students—public, private, charter, cyber, and homeschool students are all welcome! Start with your school; you’ll need a team of 8-12 readers, a Coach & $35 registration fee, and permission from your school to attend the Battle of the Books on March 5. If your school does not have enough readers, reach out to Blasco’s Teen Space at teenspace@eriecountypa.gov or leave a message at 814-451-6904 for help building a mixed team.
➡️ Find more information about requirements on the Battle of the Books page.
Where do I get the books?
At the library, duh! Not only does the Erie County Public Library loan out individual copies of the books (plus other formats like audiobook and large print when available) but Coaches can borrow Book Bins to quickly source the entire reading list. All you need is a library card!
So what are you waiting for?
Gather your readers and register for the Battle of the Books.