The New York State Library is thrilled to announce the winners of this year's Battle of the Books competition, an exhilarating test of literary knowledge that brought together talented middle and high school students from across the region. Held at the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y., the event saw competition between the North region, featuring teams from Fort Plain Central School District, Gloversville Enlarged School District, and Canajoharie Central School District, and the South region, with participants from Cooperstown Central School District, Roxbury Central School District, and Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District.
In a day filled with quick thinking and competition, teams made up of 5-6 students went head-to-head against schools in their region, with one winner declared in the middle school and high school categories. They were asked to identify pre-selected books based on the quotes from within them, including the memorable line, "I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." The answer? Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
The winning teams, victorious after six intense rounds of competition, are:
State Librarian Lauren Moore said, “Battle of the Books is something we look forward to every year as it demonstrates the importance of libraries in a young person’s education and provides an opportunity for students to develop a love of literature in a fun, unique, and meaningful way. A lot of studying goes into Battle of the Books, and I continue to be impressed with not only their recall, but the amount of strategy and comprehension that goes into the competition. A huge congratulations to all who participated! It was truly a wonderful day of literary exploration.”
When not competing, students took part in tours of both the State Museum and the State Library, gaining valuable insights into the educational resources available throughout their schooling and beyond, such as the Research Library and NOVELny, an online library available to every New Yorker, free of charge.
While Wednesday’s contest was the final for these two competing regions, other Battle of the Books may be held elsewhere throughout the state with other participating districts.
In the early morning hours of March 29, 1911, a fire broke out in the New York State Capitol at Albany. By sunset, the collection of the New York State Library, then housed in the Capitol, had been reduced to ashes.
Much of the New York State Library's collections were lost in the 1911 fire. Many items that did survive the fire emerged from the destruction with lasting marks of disaster. The Van Rensselaer Manor papers, painstakingly preserved by the family for 250 years, were severely damaged. Even cards in the card catalog were affected! You can find images of the damaged items on our Capitol Fire LibGuide.
Fall River and its industries
Other surviving materials show telltale signs of the fire but remain legible.
Fall river and its industries, pictured below, also survived the Capitol Fire. This 280-page volume was published in 1877, and includes illustrations, a folded map, and genealogical tables, to name a few exciting features. In the photos, the book is undergoing assessment and care in the NYS Library’s Preservation unit. Click on either photo to enlarge it.
Item Details for Further Exploration
Fall River and its industries: an historical and statistical record of village, town, and city, from the date of the original charter of the freemen's purchase in 1656 to the present time. With valuable statistical tables, family genealogies, etc., illustrated by views and portraits on steel. NYS Library call number 974.48 qF191.
In addition, the NYS Library’s Manuscripts and Special Collections (MSC) unit maintains the New York State Library Fire Collection, comprising materials from 1899-1942 that document the 1911 fire and the Library's efforts to rebuild its collections. Are you interested in digging deeper into these items? Ask the MSC librarians!