Children's Library

#Early Literacy & Learning (birth - 5)

You want your child to have all the tools they need to start school. Here’s the toolbox! Library storytimes start with a story your little reader will love. Then we add music, movement, and other fun to make it all stick!

Baby (a lapsit program for birth - 12 months)
Little Readers (for birth - age five)
Sensory Friendly (for ages 2 - 5, with sensory sensitivities)
Cuentacuentos en Español ("Storytelling in Spanish")

Find play groups and other early learning activities on our events calendar.

#School-Age Children (5-12 years old)

Is your child into Science, Technology, Engineering or Math? Your little Einstein (ages 5-8) can explore S.T.E.M.-based books and hands-on activities with our Junior Scientists or become the next Picasso with Junior Artists.

Turn Up for Tech (for ages 5+, families): explore robots, coding and more with themed challenges
Games & Fandoms (for ages 9+): gaming/activities inspired by fantastic books & fandoms

Gaming is a regular part of many programs and events for kids and teens, with challenges inspired by your favorite books. Learn more about gaming at the library or explore the events calendar.

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#Graphic Novels on Hoopla

Explore a wide variety of children’s graphic novels on Hoopla! From giggles to gasps, dragons to superheroes, every page is an adventure. Start reading today! Whether you're revisiting your favorites or discovering new gems, Hoopla has everything you need to fuel your kid's comics obsession!

Note: Toggle on "Kids Mode" for worry-free browsing. If you want a lock, check the box to "require a PIN to unlock Kids Mode" and enter a 4-digit code.

Graphic Novels on Hoopla!

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#Upgrade and Unlock

All KIPP Jax and Duval County Public School students already have access to their public library.

#Students can use their S-number to:

Check out up to three books or audiobooks at a time
Use online databases for homework help and school projects

#Upgrade to a library card unlock:

Up to 100 books
Up to 20 DVDs at a time
10 borrows at a time on Libby
8 borrows a month on Hoopla
10 movie tickets per month on Kanopy

To upgrade to a free resident juvenile card, bring your child to any of our 21 library locations. Not sure what to bring? Read more about borrowing privileges, account types, and eligibility or call (904) 255-BOOK.

Explore the digital library Find educational games

Looking for kid-friendly and age-appropriate e-books and streaming movies? You can use content filters, set parental controls or enable "Kids Mode" on Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy for worry-free browsing on these popular Digital Library apps.

Mayor Deegan's River City Readers

#Join the Reading Challenge

Mayor Deegan’s River City Readers is a city-wide literacy initiative and youth reading challenge that first launched in 2024. Hundreds of students and adults have signed up since, collectively reading and logging over three million minutes on the Beanstack tracker app!

#Read 20 Minutes Per Day

Participation is simple: Register online, log your reading, and earn rewards! You can start and finish the challenge at any time during the year. There is an individual goal of reading for at least 20 minutes per day. It all contributes to the annual goal of one million minutes read citywide.

#Get Started in 4 Easy Steps!

Launch the Beanstack app or website
Select "Find your school or library."
Search for Jax Library or River City Readers.
Log in to your account or sign up for a new one.

Available in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

“Reading opens doors to new worlds, sparks our creativity, and empowers us with the knowledge to shape the future.” - Mayor Donna Deegan

#How to Log Reading Minutes & Activities

Launch the Beanstack app or Beanstack website.
Touch the plus sign in the app or click the "Log Reading and Activities" button on the site.
Follow the prompts on the screen to log whatever you've accomplished.
Earn a badge when you hit a reading landmark or complete an activity.

When logging a book title, if you only know part of the title, you can choose Search for a Title. 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 Track progress.

_{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.}