Summer Library Program 2022
Welcome to Summer 2022!
Our librarians are so excited to share our summer program with everyone! This year’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities” so get ready for mermaid terrariums, Viking-inspired games, and an Under the Sea style prom for our end-of-the-summer celebration at the Fisher Center.
We’re making a splash into reading challenges on Beanstack, our digital reading tracking app. For every 60 minutes read*, you earn a ticket to enter into our grand prize drawings. We’ll even have special events where you can earn extra tickets!
Our grand prizes include several books for every age group, puzzles, toys, and gift cards. Teens (ages 12-18) will also get the chance to win a VIP party at the library that includes up to 4 friends. Kids ages 6-11 will get the chance to be Librarian for a Day!
*The Early Readers (ages 0-5) challenge is based on every 10 books read.
Summer Kickoff Event – May 19
- Skip the lines and preregister for the reading challenge on Beanstack! Starting May 12, go to hiawathalibrary.beanstack.org to sign in & preregister for the 2022 Summer Challenge for your readers’ ages.
- Patrons can stop in the library any time we’re open on May 19 to sign up for our Summer Library Program.
- There will be dedicated computers available to sign up on Beanstack or paper registration forms for those who will not be using the online reading tracker.
Hiawatha Community Foundation Match Days – May 27 & 28
The Friends of the Morrill Public Library now have an established fund with the Hiawatha Community Foundation. Find out more about this important group and how your donation on May 27 or 28 can make a big impact for our beloved library: givebacktomoveforward.org
Events for Summer 2022
Using Beanstack
The library, with the help from our Friends of the Library group, is providing access to Beanstack for a second year! Our digital reading tracker has a smooth and easy-to-use navigation and can be accessed either through their mobile app or online via a desktop computer.
Anyone can sign up as the account creator and then add readers to the account, allowing flexibility for families with multiple people who want to participate in the reading challenge. Parents can use the app just for their kids, too, if they themselves do not want their own reader profile. Readers who use the mobile app can pick how they want to log their reading: minutes, pages, number of books, or simply which days they read! There is even a reading timer to help patrons track how long they read.
Beanstack and the 2022 Summer Library Program
For the Summer Reading Challenge, patrons can earn 10 reading badges and additional activity badges. Activity badges have just for fun challenges to try like book bingo, nature walks, or checking out our digital collections! If two or more activities are completed in each of those badges, readers will get even more chances to win a grand prize.
Patrons over the age of 13 can find other patrons on the app with unique friend codes and see a leaderboard for books or minutes read.
Library staff members will be able to help anyone add to their reading log while visiting the library.
Due to budget constraints and the nature of this year’s Summer Library Program theme, Oceans of Possibilities, Morrill Public Library staff are staying conscious about the library’s environmental impact. We are unable to provide the drawstring bags made from plastic that have been handed out in previous summers, but we are able to provide a fun and crafty alternative: t-shirt book bags! On May 19 during our summer kickoff event, stop by the library to try your hand at creating your own book back using recycled t-shirt materials. Another sustainable option will be available, too, if crafting isn’t your style.
The other big impact for this year is our commitment to cut down on paper and toner usage. The library will not be providing physical copies of our reading challenge materials, such as bingo cards, reading lists, or other templates. Everyone can still track their reading and activities this summer in whatever way they wish, but if patrons choose to use paper, they will need to show their total logged minutes to library staff throughout the summer if they wish to enter our prize drawings.
To get started with your own Morrill Public Library Beanstack account, follow these steps:
- Go to the library’s Beanstack site (hiawathalibrary.beanstack.org)
- Choose “Register an Individual or Family.”
- Fill in the form.
- Register for the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge.
- Come back and log your reading to earn badges!