Did you know BCLS has a free online reading tracker service that enables you to participate in reading programs, keep track of the books you’ve read, access book lists and complete activity challenges? It’s called Beanstack and, similar to the popular site Goodreads, it keeps a log of the books you’ve read, but links right to the library’s card catalog! This is helpful if you are looking through the recommended reading lists available on Beanstack for your next book. Placing a request while browsing a recommended reading list has never been easier!
Create an account or log in to an existing account to get started.
Beanstack was created by a husband and wife after their 2-year-old son pointed to biracial characters that resembled him and his sister, saying, "That's me, and that's little sister." Inspired by this, the couple decided to start a company focused on non-traditional books featuring diverse characters and backgrounds. The company later secured backing from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank. Since then, Beanstack has helped libraries and schools curate book recommendations and motivated readers by participating in reading challenges.
In addition to the website, Beanstack has a mobile app for convenient on-the-go access. Download the free app onto your tablet or smartphone and log in to easily access your account! The app features a barcode scanner to record books read, which is especially helpful when logging books shared between multiple readers.
Beanstack is also host to our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program (1KBBK) that launched in January 2018 for children 5 and under with their caregivers. The 1KBBK program promotes early literacy and reading readiness before children start kindergarten. Research shows that reading to children at a young age can help them strengthen language skills and vocabulary, and instill a lifelong love of reading.
Seasonal reading and activity challenges can be found year-round to keep readers engaged, and they’re not just for kids and teens. Adults can also join in the fun!
