The Summer Reading program is always an important program for the Palm Springs Public Library. It’s six weeks during June and July full of fun, activities, FREE books and a chance to win prizes. This year is no different except for one very important aspect, it’s all online this year, a virtual program!
With the Library still closed due to the COVID-19 virus the Library had to find a way to deliver a great program that was still interactive and fun, so it was Beanstack.com to the rescue! Delivering a program platform that tracks reading minutes and offers the Library an opportunity to create online activities for each age group—youth, teens and even adults; it was the perfect solution! Each participant registers online at palmspringsca.beanstack.org or can download the beanstack app, then they can earn online badges for reaching reading goals and for completing activities, plus there are virtual prize tickets that can also be earned for real prizes! Free books are still an important aspect of the Library’s summer reading program; some will be given at initial registration and then each student participant has a chance to earn a pack of books at the end of the program, adults earn book vouchers redeemable at the Friends book sale once the Library reopens.
“Summer Reading is so important”, said Jeannie Kays, Director of Library Services, “studies show that students who read just six books over the summer can score higher on reading AND math when they return to school!” Libraries have presented summer reading programs for decades to help prevent ‘summer slide’ and in fact National research from Dominican University finds
that students who participate in public library summer reading programs scored higher on reading
achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those who did not participate.
Of course, this school year has been very unique with students working on their schoolwork from home since early March. But the Library’s Dig Deeper—Read, Investigate, Discover Summer Reading Program is a great break from their ‘regular’ schoolwork that will still keep them reading and engaged, while having fun creating, investigating and discovering new experiences through online activities—including virtual field trips, online escape rooms, crafts, science experiments and more!
Grand prizes will be awarded at the completion of the program in later July. A virtual drawing of winners will be announced, and participants can still enter their online entry tickets for the prize they want to try and win, which include: four bicycles (varying sizes/types) with helmets, a Kindle Fire 10 tablet with case, a Nintendo Switch Lite + game, and a $100 Amazon gift card, all courtesy of the Friends of the Palm Springs Library!
The program begins on Monday, June 8th and continues through Saturday July 18th. Go online to register at palmspringsca.beanstack.org and enter all the required fields to setup your account to track your reading minutes to earn FREE books, complete activity badges, earn online Grand Prize entry tickets and more! You can also download the app for easy tracking. If no online access, no problem, just call the Library at 760-322-7323 (M-Th 10AM – 6PM) to register and staff will assist. Once registered, whether online or over the phone, everyone should make an appointment to come to the Library and pick up your bag and start having fun!
The online reading tool subscription was provided free to the Library through funding from both the California State Library and California Library Association via CARES Act funding made available through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The funds to purchase the books and grand prizes were provided through a grant from the Anderson Children’s Foundation and ultimately from the Friends of the Palm Springs Library.
The Palm Springs Public Library offers a varied and comprehensive collection and online resources to the community. The Library is located at 300 S. Sunrise Way, on the corner of Sunrise Way and Baristo Road. For more information about the Library call 760-322-READ (7323) or log on to www.palmspringslibrary.org. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, become a subscriber to our YouTube channel and sign-up online to receive our monthly e-Newsletter.
Contact: Julie Warren
Palm Springs Public Library
760-416-6731
Julie.Warren@palmspringsca.gov
