Tech Tip: How to use Beanstack to register for summer reading

By Digital Learning Specialist Amelia

Get ready for an awesome adventure at your public library this summer! We’re thrilled to kick off our summer reading program (for kids and adults), which runs all summer long—June 1-August 21.

Once again, we’re bringing back Beanstack, a cool digital tracker, to help you keep track of your summer reading journey. Beanstack lets you track your reading goals and progress to earn digital badges (for all), prizes (for kids), and chances to win a gift card for local businesses (for adults).

Bonus: Beanstack makes it easy for families to track reading and activities together. All you have to do is make one account and add adults and kids as readers under the same username.

1. Get the Beanstack app or use your web browser

If you don’t already have the app on your device, download the Beanstack Tracker app from the Google Play Store or Apple Store or go directly to oppl.beanstack.com in your web browser.

2. Log in or create an account

Using the app

If you’ve just downloaded the Beanstack Tracker app on either your Android or iOS device, follow these instructions to log in or create an account:

1. Select the Let’s Go! button.
2. When prompted to answer “How you will participate in Beanstack?,” select At my library, school, or bookstore.
3. Select the Find a Site button.
4. Enter “Oak Park Public Library” in the search bar, and select Oak Park Public Library (IL) from the results.
5. Next, log in or create an account:
   • Already have an account? Log in using your existing username and password. (If you’ve forgotten your username or password, select Forgot Username? or Forgot Password? and follow prompts as needed.) Once you have logged in, scroll down to select the adults or kids reading challenge, and choose to Join Challenge. Then, skip to the next section of instructions to start logging your reading and activities.
   • Don’t have an account? Select the Sign Up! link to get started and continue below.
6. You will be prompted to answer whether you have used Beanstack to participate in a reading challenge. Select No to continue creating an account.
7. Enter a username and password that you will use to log into Beanstack. Select the Continue button to go to the next screen. Continue following the prompts to enter your information.
8. Congratulations! You have created your account.
   • If you have a child or family member to add to your account, select the Add A Reader button, and follow the prompts. Select adult or kids summer reading challenge as desired. Continue adding readers as needed.
   • If not, you can select the Fill Out My Reader Profile button to continue adding your information. You will be prompted to add additional information about yourself. If you are creating an account for an adult, select Adult when asked about grade and school. Select adult or kids summer reading challenge as desired.

Use your web browser

Visit oppl.beanstack.com in your web browser and follow these instructions to log in or create an account:

1. Log in or create an account:
   • Already have an account? Select the Sign In button. Log in using your existing username and password. (If you’ve forgotten your username or password, select Forgot Username? or Forgot Password? and follow prompts as needed.) Once you have logged in, scroll down to select the adults or kids reading challenge, and choose to Join Challenge. Then, skip to the next section to start logging your reading and activities.
   • Don’t have an account? Select the Register an Individual or Family button to get started and continue below.
2. Select whether you are registering yourself or if you are an adult registering a child.
3. Complete the form—including creating a username and password that you will use to log into Beanstack. If you are creating an account for an adult, select Adult when asked about grade and school Press the Next button when complete.
4. Select adult or kids summer reading challenge as desired.
5. Continue adding readers as needed.

3. Now, it’s time to start logging your reading & activities

Use the Beanstack Tracker app to track your progress and earn digital badges:

1. Log reading: Enter the number of books you’ve read or the time you’ve spent reading. Kids earn prizes by logging minutes read, while adults can log books to earn raffle entries.
2. Complete activities: Take on fun challenges for more prizes or raffle entries.
3. Collect badges: Earn digital badges for reaching milestones or doing activities in your reading journey.

4. Finally, collect your prizes

Once you’ve earned your prizes, visit any library location to redeem them. Kids can collect beads and vinyl stickers for their reading and activities, and even earn extra special beads or stickers. Meanwhile, adults will be entered to win a Chamber of Commerce gift card for their logged activities.

Get ready to dive into a summer full of reading adventures at Oak Park Public Library!

About Amelia

Part concertgoer, part bibliophile, part audiophile, half theatrical skills, half creative journaling. Amelia is part of the digital learning team as a specialist who seeks to bridge the gap between informal and formal digital literacy by emphasizing “we will learn together.”