What film features the song "Food, Glorious Food"? What is Canada's only official bilingual province? What's the name of the largest part of the human brain?
If trivia tickles your fancy, the Friends of the Coquitlam Public Library have the answer for you.
On April 11, the non-profit group that supports CPL's two branches will host its largest fundraiser of the year: quiz night.
Last year, the contest was held in the new $15-million City Centre branch and raised $3,000 for adult and children's books as well as much-needed library equipment.
And it saw the Quizzlers take the top spot for the third year in a row, earning the team a certificate and bragging rights.
For the 11th annual quiz night, Friends president Jamie McCarthy said there will be two changes: the regular MC, New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly, is unavailable so he will be replaced by Coquitlam Coun. Terry O'Neill, a library board trustee; as well, the Coquitlam Kinsmen will be serving alcohol at a cash bar as the event is now licensed.
To draw more participants, McCarthy said the Friends have door prizes to hand out during the night and four raffles: a 50/50 draw; a signed Ryan Kesler jersey; two BC Lions tickets (donated by the club); and a tablet (donated by the library board).
As for the competition, McCarthy, library director Todd Gnissios and deputy library director Silvana Harwood have been pouring over books and the internet for weeks to formulate the 60 skill-testing questions.
O'Neill will pose the questions - "about eras, sources, current events - things that test your knowledge," McCarthy said - and each table will have five to 10 minutes to complete each round of 10 questions.
A runner will then take the answer sheets to Gnissios and Harwood to be marked and the scores for each table will appear on a screen.
McCarthy, a resource librarian, said the competition is always tight; last year, the Quizzlers were just two points ahead of the second-place finishers.
Still, while it may be a tense scene, McCarthy said it's fun - and helps a good cause.
Every year, the Friends raise between $6,000 and $10,000 for the library's Books for Babies program, books for ESL learning for new immigrants, materials for the teen collection, book club sets and items for children's and literacy programs, for example. The $1,250 collected from last year's book sale went toward buying Korean books and another $2,250 came in from the sixth annual fall bridge tournament - more than double the previous year.
Besides community contributions, the Friends have also reaped grants from the city of Coquitlam ($3,300 from the Spirit of Coquitlam gaming fund last December) for a new 3D printer and from the Coquitlam Foundation.
"We will provide whatever the library needs," McCarthy said.
QUIZ NIGHT DETAILS
Tickets cost $25 for the 11th annual quiz night on Friday, April 11 and include coffee and dessert. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the contest starts at 7:30 p.m. Individual players will be partnered with a team. Call 604-937-4130 or email [email protected].
