What About BOB? Everything you need to know about the Battle of the Books

The Battle of the Books is a competition where teams made up of five teens read the chosen books and then participate in a trivia contest about those books. It’s a fun way to get some recreational reading done and actually get rewarded for it with some great prizes.

As a team, you need to assign the books to be read by the various team members. You can have each team member read two books, have all team members read all of the books, or some combination between. It’s up to you.

You will need to have a responsible person who’s 18 years of age or older to be your Team Manager. The Team Manager is there to help you get organized and provide transportation on the night of the event. Many teams ask a teacher, a parent, or their school librarian to be their team manager.

Here are some of the Rules about checking out Battle Books


1. Books may be borrowed for 1 week and renewed once.
2. A limit of 2 books is allowed on a team member’s card at any given time.
3. The books can only be borrowed on a library card belonging to a team member. Team managers should not check out books for their team members. Copies may be available through your school libraries, Sewickley Public Library, or Moon Public Library.
4. Overdue Fines are $.25 per day for Battle Books.
5. If the library doesn’t have the book because they’ve all been checked out, ask a reference librarian to order one for you from another library. (This service is free all the time.)

So what actually happens on the night of the battle you ask? Well here it is in a nutshell: You will need to arrive at the Hansen Library 15 minutes early so that you can sign in and set up your table. Each team will have a pad of paper, a pencil. Your Team Manager will actually be a Team Scorekeeper for another team to be named that night.

The Battle Moderator will begin by asking the first question twice. At the end of the second time, the Timekeeper will allow 20 seconds for teams to deliberate and write down their answers. After 20 seconds, one team will have the chance to answer out loud (the answering team will vary every question.) The Battle Moderator will announce the correct answer and the Team Scorekeepers will mark how many points were won. If your team answers correctly you get 4 points plus a bonus point if you can give the last name of the author. This means that each question is potentially worth 5 points. Answers must be specific. The moderator and judges will decide if an answer given is correct, and that decision is final. There will be three rounds with one question from each book per round.

At the end of each round, scorecards will be collected and verified. At the end of the third round, the Judges will tally all of the scores. If there is a tie, a special lightning round will take place between the tied teams. Once a clear winner has been made, the Battle Moderator will announce the winners. The top three teams will win prizes.

So, are you interested? To get started grab a booklist and a registration form. Both will be available on this blog and in the Teen Area on November 26th. You’ll need to find four friends in your grade group, find a responsible adult to be a Team Manager, create a name for your team, and start reading!!! All final registration forms are due Monday, January 28th at 9PM.

Tips for team Managers

Here are some tips for Team Managers. Of course you want your team to do well, but more important than that is that they all have fun. Here are some guidelines and tips to help you help them do well and have fun.

• Make sure that each team member understands which books on the reading list he/she is expected to read.
• Meet with the team regularly to offer encouragement, check on reading progress, foster team cohesiveness and to help team members learn author’s names and facts from books.
• Act as communication link between the library and team members and parents with all information regarding the Battle of the Books. Please keep us informed of any problems or changes. You may email Meghann at gardnerm@einetwork.net
• Make sure your team demonstrates sportsmanlike behavior before and during the battle.
• Make sure your team members and their families understand the rules of the Battle and expectations the evening of the Battle.
• Possibly provide transportation for your team members.
  
• Make sure they arrive on time at Sewickley Academy's Hansen Library (6th, 7th & 8th grade battles: 6:45, High School Battle: 6:15.)
• During the Battle each Team Manager will act as scorekeeper for another team. You will be asked to:
• Ensure that the team you are monitoring stops writing at the end of the 20-second time limit(whether answer is complete or not.)
• Record the number of points earned for each question.
• Remain focused on the team you are monitoring. (Please remember that these teens also need your encouragement.)
• Build Team Spirit
• Help them come up with a descriptive Team Name.
  
• Decorate team t-shirts.
• Have your team wear the same color or item of clothing to the Battle.
  
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Decide who will read each book. You will probably want more than one person to read each title.
• Decide how often you will meet to discuss the books.
• Hold “mock” battles or “Jeopardy” style games based on the books.
• Have kids make up some of their own practice questions to quiz each other during the meetings.
• Coaches may want to read all the books.
• Seek to understand the characters and the setting of the books. Then, if the children have to guess on an answer they may be correct.
• Encourage and Reward
• Give words of praise and encouragement.
• Serve snacks at the meetings.
• Play a game before your meetings.
  
• Have a pizza party or ice cream outing at the completion of the Battle.
• Keep it fun and make happy memories!

Enjoy!!
-MAG