# A Literacy Challenge On Wheels
As Mayor Donna Deegan’s River City Readers citywide, all-ages literacy challenge continues into its second year (and beyond), Mayor Deegan, Kids Hope Alliance, Jacksonville Public Library and literacy advocates from across the Duval County are driving this message of literacy and a love of reading into every neighborhood in Jacksonville.
Please note: The River City Readers Bookmobile is operated and staffed by Jacksonville Public Library and was purchased with generous grants to the Library Foundation of Jacksonville from the Lucy Gooding Foundation and PNC Bank Foundation.
Look for the new River City Readers Bookmobile at library and community events near you for book giveaways, literacy resources, and more. Sign up for a library card on the Bookmobile and let the librarians help you choose the perfect book!
Going 'Round and 'Round the City
The Bookmobile also does regular, scheduled visits to Jacksonville schools, Kids Hope Alliance-funded afterschool programs, and early learning centers. These visits include a "Drop Everything and Read" activity with a librarian from Jacksonville Public Library plus a chance for students and teachers to find amazing library books for their classroom library each month.
Schedule a visit from the Bookmobile
Note: You will receive a response within seven business days of your request to schedule a visit. We cannot guarantee we will be able to fulfill all requests but will make our best attempt to be at or near your site soon.
Join the River City Readers Challenge
Mayor Deegan’s River City Readers is an ongoing citywide literacy challenge which launched in 2024. That first year, hundreds of students and adults participated, collectively reading nearly three million minutes and logging them on the Beanstack tracker app!
Participation is simple: Children and their caregivers are asked to log their reading minutes every day, with an individual goal of reading at least 20 minutes per day. You are rewarded with digital badges for logging multiple days in a row and for completing other reading-related activities.
“Reading opens doors to new worlds, sparks our creativity, and empowers us with the knowledge to shape the future. The River City Readers challenge is just the beginning of a journey toward lifelong learning, and these students aren’t just winners today – they’re the future leaders, thinkers, and innovators of our city.” - Mayor Donna Deegan
The City's top readers from 2024 were recognized at a City Hall ceremony on January 27, 2025, and honored with prizes including iPads, Icemen tickets, and books from Mayor Deegan’s new River City Readers Bookmobile.
Download the Beanstack App
You can start the challenge at any time and it all contributes to the citywide goal of two million minutes read each year. At the end of the year, the readers with the most minutes read are given prizes!
- Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Download and open the Beanstack Tracker app.
- Using the Find a Site search bar, type Jax Library or River City Readers.
You can also register and log your reading minutes at https://jaxpl.beanstack.com.
Logging Your Reading Minutes
- Go to the Beanstack app.
- The Home screen has a summary of your reading activities.
- To log time read, touch the plus sign in the green button at the bottom of the screen.
- Touch the Reading button to log time spent reading.
- If you have more than one reader in your account, you will be prompted to choose the reader you are logging for.
- Choose your logging method.
- 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.
- Touch the title that you want to log.
- 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.
Improving literacy rates is a top 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 our mission, goals, and service priorities.
