DCPL is the one of the only public libraries in Georgia to support student teams in the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, a statewide reading competition. DCPL librarians coach elementary, middle and high school teams of students from across DeKalb County. Students read select award winning titles and compete in a quiz bowl format by answering questions about the books. Preparation for the bowl begins about six months prior to the competition and includes reading ten to twenty books. Students meet weekly with their librarian and practice answering questions with the required buzzers. All this hard work pays off! DCPL has had teams place in the top three each year. The DeKalb Library Foundation provides the funds to cover all the books the students read, the buzzers, headsets, entry fees, t‑shirts, and the end-of-season celebration. A participating family member recently thanked the Foundation for its support,“I am very thankful to the foundation for supplying copies of these great books for the kids to keep. The library’s reading bowl team is a wonderful, free enrichment activity for my kids. They have enjoyed the books, meeting new friends, and participating in some healthy competition.”