Beanstack Reading Challenges

Welcome to Beanstack! 

Do you enjoy tracking your reading? How about completing reading challenges? Maybe you like winning prizes? Then you are going to love Beanstack. Similiar to Goodreads but set up through your local library Beanstack allows you to track the time  you spend reading, the books you've read, participate in challenges, review titles and connect with other Beanstack users in your area.  It also is perfect for families since they allow you to set up a family account so a parent can track for themselves and help their children track easily from the same account.  

Beanstack allows library users to take part in reading challenges.  Some challenges are linked to library programs, some have themes of their own, and some are just for the love of reading!  Many challenges offer draws for users that complete them.  If challenges are not for you, you can also just use it to track your reading and get recommendations in your inbox!

Getting Started

  1. Visit your app store to download the Beanstack Tracker App to your smartphone or device, OR visit https://www.carstairslibrary.beanstack.org to use the browser version.
  2. Register yourself for an account. If more than one person in your household is registering for Beanstack (we have challenges for all age groups), create one account for the whole family and then add multiple readers. 
  3. Select one of the various challenges available, based on your age. If challenges are not your style, you can still use Beanstack to log what you read. 

Need more help? Check out our handy tip sheet for more assistance.  If you need staff assistance we are always happy to help give us a call 403-337-3943 or stop by in person with all your questions.  

Current Challenges

We will be adding new challenges as we go along but here are the ones we have running right now. 

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

blue bubbles boarder Sir Bernard Bubbles the libraries glorious blue whale as he gazes upon an open blue book with the words 1000 books before kindergarden written in it

This fun ongoing challenge is for preschoolers and their caregivers.  This challenge is part of a larger program that helps preschool children have fun while learning the skills they'll need for school.  For information on the full program visit 1000 Books on our webpage. 

Summer Reading Challenge

a psycidelic background of stars with pastel planets and cartoon astronauts reading

Our Summer Reading Challenge is on Beanstack this year.  For every 6 hours your child or teen reads they can enter to win the grand prize and win smaller prizes along the way. Earn bonus entries for completing activities or writing book reviews.  See our current events for a complete list of summer programs and events that go with our summer reading challenge.

Adult Summer Reading Challenge

a sea of stars with earth just cresting into the image from the bottom right. a lens flare effect or twinkle shines off the earth because our home is awesome
Adults can join in the Summer Reading Fun with their own reading challenge.  For every 6 hours you read you can also enter your name into a prize draw for subscription to the Once Upon a Book Club subscription box.  For extra entries you can also borrow our Blind Date with a Book mystery bags available at the library.

Ten to Try

a bird eye view of a feminine hand holding a fancy cup of coffee with a open book infront, implying she's reading when really she's enjoying that 15 dollar coffee

For everyone 16 and up we have a 10 to Try Challenge that will give you a good reading workout this winter.  First track the time you spend reading for every 60 minutes you read you'll earn badges.  Then check out our booklists and read 1 book from each list to earn even more badges while trying some new authors or reads along the way.    

  1. YA Literature
  2. Banned Books
  3. Let's Get Lost in Translation
  4. Book to Film
  5. Biography/Memoir
  6. Indigenous Authors
  7. Unusually Long Titles
  8. Staff Picks
  9. Travel with Reading
  10. Mouth Watering Reads

Beanstack FAQs

Isn't this just for kids? Beanstack is for all ages, adults as well as youth! Challenges for adults and kids run year-round.

Does this cost anything? Nope! Beanstack is 100% free.

Can I still do a reading program on paper? You totally can however if you need help with any aspect of Beanstack, please ask a library staff member for assistance; but as you’re able to view this Q&A, that means you could easily sign up for a Beanstack account, and get logging! 

I need someone to walk me through this--how do I get help? Help is available from our friendly staff by phone 403-337-3943 or email carstairs@prl.ab.ca or come into the library for in person help.  Our check out our handy tip sheet 

instructions on how to use beanstack. i swear i'll update this asap. call the library if you need these now