Winter Reading Challenge 2021: Books Like Us
This fun and self-guided program will run from January 1 through January 31, 2021. Throughout the whole month, participants are invited to read or listen to the material(s) of their choice, and track completed minutes. Tracking will be completed (in any increment, as often as you wish) through the free smartphone or tablet reading challenge app “Beanstack.” Beanstack may also be accessed online at joplinpubliclibrary.beanstack.org. There will also be paper tracking sheets available for pickup at the Library. No library card is required for participation in this challenge.
All ages are invited to participate. Pre-readers’ time will be tracked in the amount of minutes they are listening to someone read aloud. Individual goals for the month are set at two hours total hours read for children up to 12, four hours for teens and adults ages 13 and up. Anyone completing their goal is eligible to be entered to win prizes through Beanstack and Simon and Schuster, and will also receive a drink voucher from Joplin’s “Bearded Lady Roasters” (218 S Main) courtesy of Joplin Public Library
One exciting feature of Beanstack is that it will track the progress of our community as a whole! The Library has set a community-wide goal of 80,000 minutes read by January 31. Did you know there are an estimated 80,000 narwhals in the world? Let’s read a minute for each one!
The theme of the challenge is “Books Like Us”, a celebration of diversity, harnessing the transformative power of seeing oneself reflected in a book. Patrons will enjoy winter animal-themed artwork (hence the narwhal reference) in the way of earning virtual badges for completing goals.
If you have any questions about this program, the Library staff would be happy to help you. Please visit us at 1901 E. 20th Street in Joplin or call 417-623-7953. You may sign up for the program any time from now until the end of January and backdate and track any time read.