About Summer Reading

Why a Reading Program is Important

The Library has consistently provided resources and opportunities for all ages, to encourage reading and promote learning, during summer every year for ninety two years! Our main goal for Summer Reading is for children, teens, adults and families in Oklahoma County to belong to a community of readers and library users. 

For early childhood participants, this is a chance to highlight pre-reading skills! Parents may not recognize that pre-readers can participate in Summer Reading. We can help them understand that talking, reading, singing, and playing together are part of how they can prepare their children for reading. These activities count towards Summer Reading points. We have even had parents sign up babies before they are born, and count the time they read, talk, and sing to them in utero!

To help children avoid the summer slide, we provide this opportunity for them to read and learn during June and July, averting loss of progress made during the school year. When children do not participate in summer learning activities, by 6^th grade they can be as much as 2 years behind their classmates who do. Summer Reading is also a way to help strengthen reading skills by showing kids that reading can be fun, because we are encouraging them to read for enjoyment on topics that interest them.

Other reasons we want to engage customers during June and July:

• When adults model reading to their children, they are more likely to read themselves.
• Our Summer Reading program encourages reading as a family and promotes learning for the entire family.
• Vacation reading is often the only time people read for pleasure.
• The library provides a community for all readers. Summer Reading is a well known and established community tradition.
• A Summer Reading program assists the library system in fulfilling our vision of being “the community’s hub for critical thinking (learn smarter), creative problem-solving (work smarter), and life-long enrichment (live smarter)".

Reading Program

Software – Beanstack

Why did we choose Beanstack?

• It is available year-round and can be used for other programs.
• As a sign-up feature, readers may select to receive suggested book lists via email.
• Beanstack is customizable and flexible to help us meet community needs as they evolve.
• Customers may use links to access a curated list of educational and early learning apps.
• Learning activities can help promote library resources and materials (creates tie-in).
• Beanstack features badges and other game elements like points that make Summer Reading engaging.

Why do we continue to use Beanstack?

Beanstack is the premier reader management software. Along with the many benefits of using familiar software, the potential for growth with Beanstack is one of top reasons we continue to use this software. Every year with Beanstack, we see tremendous growth from their development team in expanding offerings. Each of these developments helps us provide a better user experience and build engagement with our collections. No other software can help us reach our members while enhancing their experience and building their engagement that is as easy to use and maintain.

Sign-Up

New Registrants 

• Follow the prompts to either Register as an Individual or Family or to Register as a Class or Group. 
• If registering as an Individual or Family, option to register yourself or a child.
• If registering a Class or Group, option to log reading and activities all at the same time or individually. 
• Complete the required fields on the registration form.
  • Username Field
    • Customers can create a username, use an email address, or use a library card # for this field (username) and create a password or use their last name as the password.

Returning Users 

• Sign In.
• Follow the prompt to update information and save. 
• Register for the 2024 Summer Reading Program. 
• Once registered, click on Return to this Program. 
• After returning to the 2024 Summer Reading Program landing page, returning users can add readers and edit their information. 

All Readers

• Readers can log reading and complete reading activities via the website or the app.
• Readers earn points to indicate when certain milestones are reached.
  • These point levels tell library staff what prizes to award.

Staff Completing Sign-Up for Customer

• Log into the administrative side of the software.
• Select People and then Add an Account Creator and Reader from the menu.
• Complete the information for the customer.
• Staff can also log a customer's reading once the account is created by clicking Add to Log or Log Activities.

Logging Reading & Activities 

• Any staff member can assist the library customer in entering their time in Beanstack.
• Any staff member can print reading logs and activity logs for customers (see Downloads page); reading logs and activity logs are available for all ages.

Badges

What are badges?

A badge is a visual representation on a reader's account.

Below is a helpful breakdown of what each badge types signifies. 

• Challenge Badges
  • Earn a challenge badge when you register for and complete this year's Summer Reading Program. 
• Point Badges
  • Earn point badges as you log points for time read and completing various activities through a learning track (an age-based list of literacy based activities that you can earn points for) in Beanstack. 
• Logging Badges
  • Earn logging badges when you reach specific reading milestones (e.g. Read 1 Minute, Read 5 Hours, etc.). 
• Activity Badges
  • Earn activity badges for completing a learning track (an age-based list of literacy based activities that you can earn points for) in Beanstack. 
• Review Badges
  • Earn review badges for submitting reviews in Beanstack. 

Awarding Prizes

• Readers/Parents/Guardians and Groups can claim prizes in any library June 1-July 31, in addition to the 2 week unadvertised grace period though August 15. 
• Staff members can use administrative functions in Beanstack to Find Person and Redeem Incentives.

Teen Volunteers