STPL offers reading challenges to readers of all ages throughout the year using Beanstack (sttammanylibrary.beanstack.com/reader365). These challenges include our annual Summer Reading Challenge and Winter Reading Challenge. Participants in these challenges can earn points, virtual badges, and real prizes for reading and completing fun activities! Our Summer & Winter Reading Challenges are designed to promote reading and basic literacy skills throughout the summer/winter months. The goal is to encourage reading as a lifelong habit by drawing in reluctant readers with fun enrichment activities and helping students build their literacy skills.
Reading Challenges FAQs
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General Questions
No, you do not need a library card to sign up for a Reading Challenge. However, it's easy to get a library card or replace a lost card! You can sign up online or in any of our branches.
Beanstack is our free online Reading Challenge management software. It allows you to log your reading, read and submit book reviews, and receive book recommendations. During the Summer and Winter Reading Challenges you can complete challenges, earn badges, and receive prizes! Even if we don't currently have an active challenge for your age group, you can still track your reading year-round using Beanstack. Continue reading to see which challenges are currently active and to learn more about Beanstack.
Visit our Beanstack site sttammanylibrary.beanstack.com/reader365 and select “Register and Individual or Family” to get started. Follow the prompts to create your account.
Read ANYTHING that you want! Books, graphic novels, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines all count toward our reading challenges. Each challenge has its own length. Sign-up for Beanstack to find out what challenges are available to you.
Yes! Listening to an audiobook is the same as reading a book! Both count for all of our challenges.
If you don’t have access to a computer, but you DO have access to a smartphone or tablet, you can download the Beanstack App for your iPhone or iPad or via Google Play.
The STPLibraries also have computers that you may use to log in your reading.
Each challenge is different. Some are for fun and personal growth others have prizes. Our Winter and Summer Reading Challenges do have prizes for all ages.
Please talk with your Local Librarian who will help you and your child determine which level Challenge will be best suited for their needs.
- How old do you have to be to participate? The program is for children from birth to about 5 years old. Anyone who has not started kindergarten yet.
- Do I have to read a different book each time? It’s okay if the child wants to read the same book over and over. Repetition is key to learning! Each time a book is read, it counts.
- Do I have to use library books? Any book that is read to the child counts. Families can read books from the library, school or from home.
- Who can do the reading? Anyone can read the books: teachers, siblings, grandparents, and even books read at Storytime!
- How do I keep track of the books? Families can log their time in Beanstack, on our paper log, or both!
- Is there a deadline for participation? There is no deadline for this program. Families can start anytime. Families read at their own pace. Some will finish in a few months; some may take a few years.