#Let's Get Reading Duuuval!

Mayor Deegan’s River City Readers is a citywide literacy challenge for students of all ages that runs through 2024. Challenge participants are asked to read 20 minutes a day and to log their reading in Beanstack, a popular reading challenge app. 

Improving literacy rates is a priority for Mayor Deegan and her administration, as fewer than half of third graders are reading on grade level. Literacy levels affect economic development, public safety, and overall quality of life for the residents of Duval County.

Jacksonville Public Library recognizes the importance of literacy and lifelong learning and will actively support initiatives aligned with its mission, goals, and service priorities. Together, we've set a citywide reading goal of one million minutes read by the end of 2024!

#Join the Reading Challenge

With the Beanstack app, it's easier than ever before to keep track of your reading. All you have to do is read at least 20 minutes per day and log those reading minutes online. You'll be awarded digital badges for logging multiple days in a row and for completing other reading-related activities. At the end of the year, the city’s top young readers will be given prizes!

DOWNLOAD THE BEANSTACK APP:

1. Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Download and open the Beanstack Tracker app.

REGISTER FOR THE RIVER CITY READERS CHALLENGE:

1. Open the app and choose At my library, school or bookstore.
2. Using the Find a Site search bar, type Jax Library or River City Readers
3. Select Jax Library River City Readers (FL).
4. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see Don’t have an account? Select Sign up!
5. Select No when asked if you have previously used Beanstack with Jacksonville Public Library.
6. Create an account by adding an email and creating a password. Select Continue.
7. Add your First and Last Name and select Continue.
8. Add a Phone Number and Zip Code. (This is optional.) Select Continue.
9. Choose a Library. 
10. Your account is created! You can add additional information about yourself or add additional readers.
11. Now you're ready to start tracking your reading minutes, earning achievements and badges, and completing activities.

You can also register and log your reading minutes on the Beanstack website at https://jaxpl.beanstack.com.

LOG YOUR READING MINUTES:

1. Go to the Beanstack app.
2. The Home screen has a summary of your reading activities.
3. To log time read, touch the plus sign in the green button at the bottom of the screen.
4. Touch the Reading button to log time spent reading.
5. If you have more than one reader in your account, you will be prompted to choose the reader you are logging for.
6. Choose your logging method.
7. When logging by book title, if you only know part of the title, you can choose Search for a Title and enter what you know.
8. Touch the title that you want to log.
9. If you want to track your reading progress as you progress through a book, keep the Track progress button on. If you would like to only add minutes read to your log, turn off the Track progress button.