Are you smarter than a librarian, a city councillor or a school principal?
You can find out April 13 when the Friends of Coquitlam Public Library Society hosts its 9th annual quiz night.
Billed as a brain teaser for trivia buffs, the event is also a charitable night of giving for a good cause. All funds for the event will go to supporting the library, either by purchasing book sets for book clubs, fueling the summer book bus or purchasing furniture or other items for the new City Centre branch, which is undergoing renovations.
"It really is a lot of fun racking your brains trying to remember what you learned in school," said Silvana Harwood, the library's deputy director
The event is the largest fundraiser for the Friends of Coquitlam Public Library Society, a non-profit group with charitable status that is hosting the event.
Society president Belinda Thornton said she'd like to see several more teams sign up, paying $25 for each member to participate in the quiz session. So far several councillors, school administrators and library supporters have purchased tickets. There is even a youth group, but Thornton would like to see lawyers, accountants, teachers, and even local business people join in the fun, too.
"It's really for a good cause," said Thornton, who joined the Friends group about two years ago as a way to give back to the community.
The library is increasingly being seen as a community hub and - despite the internet, and multi-channel universe - reading is still a very popular past-time. In fact, according to Harwood, book club numbers have exploded, with 70 groups at last count, three more joining up with the library in one week.
"It's just growing," Harwood exclaimed.
Students, seniors, moms with tots, hobbyists, workers and new immigrants are just some of the people who use the library frequently - spurring demand and sparking the need for a new library branch for Coquitlam's burgeoning city centre.
Last year, Coquitlam bought a building next to Henderson Centre, at 1169 Pinetree Way, for $9 million and is spending about $4 million in renovations. When the building upgrade is completed, likely late this fall, the library will still need to pay for some of the extra bells and whistles.
That's where the quiz zight comes in, funds raised for the night of trivia questions, munching on snacks and door-prize giveaways, will help to pay for some of those extras.
Last year, the event raised $4,000 and Harwood and Thornton would like to see the same amount or more raised this year.
Harwood is a past survivor of quiz night and lived to tell the story. She says it's a night of cutthroat guessing of the correct answer. Topics range from geography to current events, sports, literature and history, including local history, with some basic facts about the city virtually unknown by some people.
"What year did Coquitlam become a city, do you know how few people knew the answer," Harwood joked.
Still, there are questions that will appeal to everybody with library director Rhian Piprell coming up with most of them, and New Westminster-Coquitlam-Port Moody MP Fin Donnelly the quiz master.
There will also be snacks and fabulous door prizes, including two tickets to a Canucks' playoff game and an e-reader.
Five or six teams of eight are still needed and everyone is encouraged to study up for quiz night. But no matter how many Wikipedia entries or history books you glance at, Harwood says, be prepared to be stumped.
To purchase a ticket, call the library at 604-937-4130.
THE EVENT
Coquitlam Public Library Quiz Night
Friday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Coquitlam PUblic Library, Poirier Branch
575 Poirier St.
Coquitlam
Tickets are $25 and include coffee, dessert and a chance to win prizes
