Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Get started with our video tutorials! Still have questions? We have answers to the most frequently asked questions about our Reading Programs from library users!
What are the Reading Programs?
What is Beanstack?
Where do I find the Summer Reading Program online?
How do I sign up?
What is an individual account vs family account?
I participated last year. What is my login?
What if I forgot my password?
What is a “challenge”?
How do I log?
How do I earn badges?
I’m an adult, why does it ask my grade?
Why doesn’t it show the correct reading challenge for my grade level?
What are the Reading Programs?
The Summer & Winter Reading Programs are designed for all-ages, from birth through adult, and offer fun activities and incentives to foster a love of reading. The programs 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.
Beanstack is our web-based Summer Reading Program management software. It allows you to track your minutes, view upcoming events, and receive weekly, personalized book and event recommendations!
Where do I find the Reading Programs online?
Find the Summer Reading program online through our website sewickleylibrary.org/summer-reading and the Winter Reading program at sewickleylibrary.org/winter. Already signed up and want to go straight to the logging page? Visit sewickleylibrary.beanstack.org to get logging! You can also download the mobile Beanstack Tracker app for your phone or tablet from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Visit sewickleylibrary.beanstack.org and select “Register and Individual or Family” to get started. Follow the prompts to create your account.
What is an individual account vs family account?
An individual account would be for a reader who is only signing themselves up for the program. If you are signing multiple people in your household up at the same time and would like to manage all of those accounts with one login, then you can create a family account. This is ideal for parents or caregivers who are logging reads for children, though anyone can be a member of your family.
I participated last year. What is my login?
If you participated in our summer or winter reading programs in the past, you probably already have a Beanstack account. Go to the Beanstack sign in page and log in using your username OR email address that you used to create the account and your password.
If you forgot your password, you can select “Recover Password” on the Beanstack sign-in page. You will be prompted to enter your username or email address and a link will be emailed to your account for you to reset your password.
Challenges are another name for the program you or your family members are participating in. We have challenges for all ages levels and you will see which challenge you are eligible for depending on your age/grade. In the summer, there are four different challenges:
- Reading Together (for babies, toddlers & preschoolers)
- Imagination Readers (for those reading on their own through entering 5th grade)
- Teen Summer Reading (for grades 6-12)
- Adult Summer Reading (for adults ages 18+).
Each reader must be enrolled in a challenge to begin logging their reads.
First you must create your account and enroll in the designated challenge for your age/grade level. Once the programs begin, you can start logging. NOTE: Any reads logged before the program begins will not count toward your summer reading goal!
You can log your reads (either minutes or books, depending on what challenge you are enrolled in) or your activities. The more you log, the more chances you have to win weekly/grand prize drawings throughout the programs!
There are 3 types of badges:
- Logging Badges: earn these milestone badges whenever you log your reads.
- Activity Badges: these are optional, fun activities that you can complete to earn extra entries into the grand prize drawings. You get an additional entry into the drawing for each activity badge you earn.
- Review Badges: these are optional badges that you can earn by writing reviews about the books you’ve read. You get an additional entry into the drawing for each review badge you earn.
I’m an adult, why does it ask my grade?
By default, the system asks for everyone’s grade when they register to determine which challenge you are eligible for. If you are an adult and/or out of school, you can select the “Not applicable” option at registration.
Why doesn’t it show the correct reading challenge for my age/grade level?
If you don’t see the correct challenge, it’s most likely that your basic information needs to be updated. When you are logged into your account, select the reader you want to update. Select “edit reader” next to their name, which brings you to the page where you can personalize the reader’s information. Select “basic information” and update as needed.
