The Halifax County Library System hosted the first-ever HCLS staff vs. middle school team Battle of the Books program. 

Battle of the Books began in the 1980s and continued through 2019. 

This year was the first year the competition has been held post-Covid, and, more significantly, it is the first time that the library staff has ever participated in this event as a competitor.

Normally, the middle school Battle of the Books program would consist of anywhere from two to nine Halifax County school teams competing in round-robin competition. 

In January, when the HCLS staff found out that only Chaloner Middle School was going to be able to compete in Battle of the Books this year, it was suggested that the library engage in a friendly head-to-head battle to help them prepare for a regional competition being held in the near future.

On March 30, five members of the HCLS staff went 10 rounds with 12 questions per round based on the required 16 books against their opponents from Chaloner. 

Chaloner had two teams of six students each who alternated answering questions each round. While the library staff tried their hardest to remember all the titles and authors to answer the questions, in the end, the student team captured the victory for Chaloner Middle School.

The entire library staff played a role in making this year’s Battle of the Book a success by serving as team members, scorekeepers, judges, rotation authority and hostesses who fed everyone at the end of the program. 

Assistant County Manager Christina Wells emceed the event, and County Manager Dia Denton presented the awards.

Halifax County Library System Director Brenda Faithful said she was proud of both teams for the effort put forth by each side and congratulated them on a job well done. 

She hopes that this year’s Battle of the Books will revitalize the interest in continuing the program next year and beyond.