Patchogue-Medford Library Celebrates America at 250

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Patchogue-Medford Library is hosting a trivia contest on Monday, August 24th, with prizes for the winning team.

Trivia contenders can head over to the main branch, located at 54-60 E. Main St., at 6:30 p.m. where their brain power will be tested until 8 p.m.

This is one of many events the library has been offering to mark the country’s semiquincentennial. The call is out for trivia enthusiasts from the Patchogue-Medford area and beyond to sign up free of charge.

“We thought it would be a fun thing to do. We have a following for people who do trivia here, and we thought a specialized one would be appropriate based on the timeline,” said Brian Schwartz, head of public services for the library.

Trivia fans will compete in teams of three to five players for a chance to win a gift card for each of their members.

Not an expert on American history? No problem. The team-approach lets everyone contribute, and the 70 to 80 questions will go beyond history to include American icons, music, movies, and even fads.

“We have 10 different topics we’re doing, and we’re going to have mixed rounds,” he said. That way no one gets stuck with a topic they know little about for very long—a strategy that adds to the enjoyment. “That’s the beauty of this kind of trivia…everyone can contribute something,” he said.

While America’s 250 represents a new direction, the library has been giving folks the opportunity to test their knowledge with trivia for at least 20 years. “We usually get between 15 to 30 people, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the topic,” said Schwartz. “We try to make it fun.”

Future trivia events will include an elimination-style contest on October 8th.