Who Can Participate?

In 2026, the MHLS Battle of the Books became one program for students who have completed fifth grade through eleventh grade. Participants are expected to read the titles during the spring and summer months. Each library has its own requirements for meetings and attendance, the necessary number of books to read, and decision on who will represent the library in the Regional Battle.

Are There Any Fees to Participate?

Like most library programs, there is not a fee charged to participants. The program itself is funded through donations from Friends Groups and other generous supporters. However, each library invests money in the program to purchase books, t-shirts and other incentives. Again, this can vary from library to library.

Where Do Participants Get the Books?

It is up to the individual libraries to purchase copies of the titles. Copies of the books are also available through the Mid-Hudson Library System Catalog.

Do Participants Need to Read All of the Titles?

Each library determines their own rules. If there are any concerns regarding a title, please contact your library’s coach and they will bring up your concern to the rest of the committee.

When and Where are Meetings Held?

Each library determines the best meeting times for their teams and most are held at the specific library. Most participating libraries begin the program in the spring to allow the team to have enough time to read the books and to participate in practice battles with other neighboring libraries.

How are the final Battles Held?

The final battles happen at the end of the summer. Typically we chose a location that will allow for all students and families to participate. Teams will compete against each other throughout the day until a final team wins.

Where do the Questions Come From?

The questions for the battles are written by representatives from each of the participating libraries. These questions are edited by members of the Question Committee who select the best questions for each of the titles to be used in the battles. The leftover questions are distributed to participating libraries to use for practice battles.