InterALIA, June 2005

Librarians and quiz nights

You know, there's an uncanny link between quiz nights and librarianship. And it's not just the fact that the inaugural ALIA SA library and information week quiz night was held the other week.

1. The reference connection
A quiz night is just like a stint on the reference desk. But with the added benefit of alcohol! This simile works better if the person at the reference desk is a generation 'x'er and Google is unavailable (ie: no reference materials).

2. Food
Library morning teas, vendor talks, copyright seminars. It's all about the food. The quiz night is no exception. As noted by Caryn Butler 'tables groaned under the weight of wine, cheese, lollies, nibbles and other treats. Indeed, certain tables took their themes that step further and brought themed food.'

3. Battle of the somewhat daggy stereotypes
You know the one, the response to mentioning you're a librarian is somewhat similar to mentioning you're spending your Friday evening at a quiz night.
Oh, [pause] really?

4. Productive team membership
There's nothing more bonding than arguing whether the Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened in 1931 or 1933 and then, of course, discovering that it was 1932. Darn you, curse of the one-year-off-for-the-entire-night!

Spooky quiz night / library connection aside, the inaugural ALIA SA quiz night was a resounding success.

In a tightly fought battle for library supremacy, the 'Boolean operators' came out on top with 117 points, with 'Ethel Merman eight' on 114.5 points just ousting 'Licorice allsorts' on 113.5 points for second place.

The wooden spoon went to the 'Marion marvels' on 84.5 points.

Surgical caps and masks, and a howling table mascot helped 'Go dog go!' take out the all important best dressed table prize. Legal Beagles, with very impressive legal regalia, received the consolation prize.

In the words of Caroline Frawley 'It was close to perfect - excellent venue, great prizes, terrific quiz master and a wonderful range of questions - not too easy, not too hard, just hard enough to separate the winners from the rest of us'.

Congratulations to Peter Flatman, quiz night host extraordinaire, Civica and all the sponsors, and the ALIA SA quiz night organisers for putting on a fantastic event!