Members of Riverhead Free Library’s “Battle of the Books” team were feted by library and town officials yesterday in a ceremony at the library.
Riverhead’s team, comprising children entering grades 6 through 9, placed seventh out of 39 Suffolk library teams in a Jeopardy-like competition at Stony Brook University last month. First place went to Sachem Public Library this year.
The fast-paced quiz game is based on eight books team members read during the summer for the “Battle of the Books” program. Teams competed in four rounds at the regional “battle” with each team being asked 20 questions in each rapid-fire round. Each team has five seconds to answer a question.
The seventh-place finish is Riverhead’s best in the annual competition, said coordinator Joyce Rienzo. The program had 16 participants this summer, students from: Riverhead Middle School, Pulaski Street School, Riverhead Charter School, St. Isidore’s, Bishop McGann-Mercy, the Hayground School, and homeschoolers.
The program has grown in popularity over the years, Rienzo said, and has sprouted new “battles” for high-schoolers as well as an elementary school program that takes place during the school year.
Library director Joy Rankin presented the children with certificates and thanked the Friends of the Library for their support of the program.
Riverhead Councilman John Dunleavy presented each team member with a certificate of recognition from the Town of Riverhead.
“Reading is the most important thing. If you can read, you can learn anything,” Dunleavy said. “The whole community is proud of you.”
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