Register by Dec. 20!

Prepare Thy Bookmark!

The Erie County Public Library is hosting its first countywide Battle of the Books, inviting high school students in grades 9–12 from any Erie County school — public, private, charter, cyber, or homeschool — to form reading teams and compete in March.

Teams of 8 to 12 students will work together to read 24 selected titles over the winter and then face off in a fast-paced, quiz-style competition based on those books. The goal is to encourage reading for enjoyment and bring students together through a fun, countywide literacy challenge.

Get full details and register now!
Hurry! Registration closes Dec. 20.

Who Can ParticipateAny Erie County student in grades 9 to 12Teams may include students from different schoolsSchools may register multiple teamsTeam Basics

Each team must have:

8–12 readersOne adult coach (teacher, librarian, or family member)One school advisor$30 team registration feeA plan to divide and read all 24 books

The books! Books come from the YSU English Festival, the statewide reader’s choice Mountain Laurel Book Award, and hand-picked selections from ECPL librarians.

Registration

Deadline to register: Dec. 20, 2025, at 5 PM

Registration requires the team’s roster, coach and advisor information, and payment. Full details and the registration form are available on the Erie County Public Library website.

Library Support

To help teams prepare (and save money!), ECPL offers:

Book Bins. Each book bin contains half the reading list.Access to the Idea Lab for team merchFree use of meeting rooms for team sessionsA list of teams seeking additional readers

The library is also planning several free events for teams including:

Learn More & Register

Find the registration form and full program details on the Erie County Public Library Battle of the Books page.