Move Over, Regis

If you know the answer (Paul Laurence Dunbar), you might have done well on QuizMania, a televised quiz bowl for teens sponsored by the New Orleans Public Library.

Teams from nine New Orleans high schools participated in the program, answering questions in categories like history, technology, geography, and art. The idea for the project came from a similar show the library did two years ago for Black History Month, says Germaine Age Williams, the library's community awareness coordinator. The first show proved so popular that when the library won a $500,000 grant last year from the Carnegie Corporation [SLJ, August 1999, p. 18], officials decided to use some of the money for a more extensive quiz-bowl program.

The kids who participated "were ecstatic," says Williams. "They kept asking, 'Will you do this again next year?'"

The idea behind QuizMania was to remind teens and their teachers about the resources available at the public library, as well as to reach out to more young adults. "We don't do a whole lot with teenagers," Williams admits.

It took about 20 staff members from several library divisions to draw up the 50 questions needed for each show, says Penny Atkinson, the library's assistant head for information and reference. The staff also wrote a study guide for students that listed the reference books in which answers could be found.

The library got production help from television station WLAE, a PBS member station, which hosted the programs, built sets, and provided technical staff. The cost of the project: $42,000.

Library officials hope to continue the quiz show annually if they can find the resources, Williams says. QuizMania started February 18 and will run weekly through April 6.--A. G.