Beanstack was developed by husband-and-wife team Felix Lloyd and Jordan Lloyd Bookey as a way to provide families with book recommendations that would meet the specific needs of their children. In 2013, the couple appeared on Shark Tank and secured a $250,000 investment from Mark Cuban. Currently, there are more than 250 libraries in the US and Canada using the Beanstack service.

In the past, BCLS primarily used Beanstack as an online tool for tracking Summer Reading Program progress, and largely focused on children’s activities, but we are now expanding to year-round programs for readers of all ages. With Beanstack, our customers can:

• Log and track their reading
• Write book reviews
• Access book lists made by our librarians that link directly to our catalog
• Earn badges by participating in seasonal and year-round reading programs
• Enjoy activity tracks all year long
• Get app recommendations and themed learning guides for children

Starting in June, Beanstack will feature special badges for our summer theme: Build a Better World. Also, beginning in January 2018, we will use Beanstack to participate in the nationwide early literacy program called 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.

Whether you’re a fan of traditional books or graphic novels, there’s something in the BCLS catalog for you! Did you know audio books and eBooks also count for your Beanstack log? Beanstack has something for everyone -- check out our digital catalog or see one of the lists below for ideas!