General Questions

When is the Mayor's Summer Reading Club (MSRC)?

The Mayor's Summer Reading Club begins on May 30, but you can sign up early, starting May 15 at 10:00 a.m

Will there be prizes?

Yes! Thanks to the generous donations of our sponsors, we can offer some fun prizes for all ages! 

What are the grand prize drawings?

In addition to the rewards that are earned by reading, you can also get virtual tickets for the grand prize drawings by completing different activities in Beanstack! Grand prizes were donated by the Friends of the NRH Library and our generous Mayor’s Summer Reading Club sponsors.

Using your tickets:

• Certain reading milestones and activities will reward readers with a virtual ticket
• Under the 'Tickets' button in Beanstack, readers choose which prize they want to try to win
• Readers can put some tickets in one prize drawing and other tickets in another one

Beanstack

What is Beanstack?

Beanstack is a digital portal to the Mayor's Summer Reading Club and a primary way to participate. You'll use Beanstack to track the minutes you read over the summer, log activities, and redeem tickets for prize drawings.

How do I access Beanstack?

There are two ways to use Beanstack: visit our Beanstack web page, or download the free Beanstack Tracker app from your device's app store.

Can I sign up more than one reader on one account?

Yes, in fact, we recommend it! You can set up as many profiles as you like for readers of any age. This makes it easy to log reading for everyone in your family, and you can even record time for all of your readers at once.

Can I sign up a group on Beanstack?

To sign up a group, you'll need to register like a normal account. Then create a reader for each member of your group. Doing this allows you to record any reading done for all readers at once, which is great for recording group story times!

Do I need to register if I participated last year?

Nope! Just select the “Sign in” option, and you'll be prompted to update information on yourself and any readers. If you are having trouble logging in, try the "Forgot Your Password" option if you signed up with an email address, or you can contact the Children's Department at 817-427-6818.

What is a challenge?

Challenges are another name for the program you or your family members are participating in. We have challenges for all age levels, and you will see which challenge you are eligible for depending on your age/grade. There are three different challenges in the summer: one for children, teens, and adults. Each reader must be enrolled in a challenge to begin logging their reading. 

How do I log my reading or activities?

Web Version

• Click the "Log Reading and Activities" in the top-left corner of your page
• Select whether you want to log reading time or activities
• To log reading, first, select which reader you'd like to log minutes or activities for from the dropdown menu
• Select the date you read on the calendar, and input the time you spent reading (titles and authors are optional)
• To log activities, select which activity category you'd like to view
• Some activities require you to enter text, like the title of a book you read or an activity code
• Activity codes are provided at the event you attend

App Version

• Open the Beanstack Tracker app and hit the "+" button in the bottom center of your screen
• Select whether you want to log reading time or activities
• To log reading, first, select which reader you'd like to log minutes and hit the 'Choose Readers' button
• Choose if you want to enter your book information by scanning the barcode, manually entering it, or enter the logging time only
• To log activities, select which activity category you'd like to view
• Some activities require you to enter text, like the title of a book you read or an activity code
• Activity codes are provided at the event you attend

What is a badge?

A badge is a visual representation on the reader's account of the successful completion of a specific reading goal or activity.

What are activities?

Activities are things you can do tied to a particular theme. This includes things like attending a Library event or reading things on a specific topic. Once you complete the required amount of activities in a given theme, you'll earn a badge!

How do I get the prizes I earn in Beanstack?

When you reach certain reading milestones, you'll earn a badge. Badges that have prizes associated with them will alert you that you've won a prize. Prizes for all ages can be picked up at the Children's Desk in the NRH Library. Just be sure to pick up any prizes you've earned before August 5.

What are tickets?

Tickets are virtual entries into our grand prize drawings. These allow you to select which prize drawings you want to be entered into. You can put all your tickets towards one prize, or spread them out however you wish!

How do I use my tickets?

Once you've earned a ticket, be sure to click on the "Ticket Drawings" button near the top of the Beanstack challenge page. Click the "Add Tickets" button next to the prize you're interested in! If you're using the app, you'll need to select the Mayor's Summer Reading Club from your list of current challenges and then tap the "Drawings" button. Then, you'll click on the prize you're interested in and hit the "Add Tickets" button.

Can I select a different language?

Yes! Beanstack has a language option powered by Google Translate. When on the Library's Beanstack page, scroll to the bottom, and on the right-hand side of the page, you'll find a 'Select Language" button.