Library District launches Winter Reading Challenge to compete with libraries nationwide

Contact: Rachel Cook

Gainesville, Fla. – The Alachua County Library District is launching the first Winter Reading Challenge, calling on our community to read 1,000 hours from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14 to win local prizes and help the Library District compete against libraries across the country.

The Winter Reading Challenge: Books Like Us is sponsored by publisher Simon & Schuster and presented by Beanstack. Participants can register for the challenge now at aclib.beanstack.org or by using the Beanstack app. Nine local readers will receive $20 gift cards to local restaurants for participating in the challenge thanks to prize sponsors Mi Apá Latin Café, Gator’s Dockside, and Gator BTW.

Log your time spent reading, complete activities, and write reviews in Beanstack to earn badges. Each badge earned is another entry in the prize drawing and each minute logged helps the Library District advance in the competition.

During the challenge, hundreds of libraries across the nation will encourage their communities to read a target number of minutes or books. Prizes for top-performing libraries include book collections and virtual author visits from Simon & Schuster.

“We’re calling on Alachua County to help us compete with libraries from New York to Wyoming,” said Alachua County Library Director Shaney T. Livingston. “We encourage participants to register now and share the news on social media using #WinterRead2021.”

For more information, visit www.aclib.us/winter or call Rachel Cook at 352-334-3909.

If a person with a disability needs an accommodation in order to participate in this event he or she is entitled, at no cost to him or her, to the provision of certain assistance.  Please contact the Alachua County Library District at 352-334-3910 at least three (3) days prior to the event.  TTY users, please call 711 (Florida Relay Service).

By Rachel on September 17, 2021