Summer Reading for a Cause 2024
Welcome to our Summer Reading for a Cause program for ALL ages! Join us for fun events and log your reading to earn prizes and support a great cause. If we reach our community goal of reading for 2,000 hours (or 120,000 minutes), we'll donate $2,500 to Downtown Streets Team, opens a new window through our Friends of the Palo Alto Library.
Under the theme "Everyone's a Reader!", we encourage you to read or listen daily, whether it's books, articles, audiobooks, or storytimes. All reading counts!
Through August 1, sign into Beanstack, opens a new window to track reading progress. We recommend using the free app to make logging easier:
How to Participate (June 1–August 1)
#1 - Create Your Account
- New Readers: We use an app called Beanstack to track reading progress and participation. Setting up an account is very easy and only takes a few minutes. Watch this tutorial video for a basic rundown or contact us for help. Your Beanstack account is not connected to your library account in any way—it's only for this specific app
- Returning Readers: Sign in to Beanstack and start logging your reading! The action of logging automatically enrolls you in our program.
- Opt-in to Beanstack emails. These weekly emails are separate from the library's monthly newsletter and contain info about upcoming events and book recommendations based on your reading.
#2 - Log Your Reading
- We have a 3-tiered program on the Beanstack website or app for kids (0-12), teens (13-17) and adults (18+).
- Complete each tier to earn prizes and raffle tickets. Whether it's a 10-minute read or a longer session, every minute counts toward unlocking rewards. Remember, all types of reading count, from audiobooks to comics and magazines. Read or listen to whatever you like!
- If our readers log 2,000 hours (or more!) we will donate $2,500 to Downtown Streets Team through our Friends of the Palo Alto Library.
#3 - Prize Pickup
- After completing Tier 1, you have earned your prize! Keep reading and tracking your time to complete all three tiers and earn raffle tickets for our grand prize drawing.
- Prizes can be picked up at Children’s, Mitchell Park and Rinconada Libraries from July 1 to August 31. Three grand prizes winners will be announced in mid-August!
Prizes
Tier 1
If you log at least 5 hours of reading, you've earned a prize! Prizes can be picked up July 1 through August 31 at Children's, Mitchell Park, and Rinconada libraries while supplies last.
Kids Prize:
Book of Your Choice + FOPAL Book Bucks
Teen Prize:
Stickers + FOPAL Book Bucks
Adult Prize:
Collectible Pin + FOPAL Book Bucks
Tiers 2 & 3
Earn raffle tickets for our grand prize drawing when you complete the remaining tiers. We will draw names in mid-August and notify our winners.
Actual prizes may look slightly different from images shown.
Kids Grand Prize:
- 4 tickets to the Palo Alto Children’s Theater (2024–2025 season)
- STEM Kit
- $50 gift card to Books, Inc.
- 2024 Summer Reading for a Cause T-shirt
Teen Grand Prize:
- Beats Headphones
- $25 gift card to Boba Guys
- 4 Ice Skating Sessions at the Winter Lodge
- 4 Putter's Mini Golf rounds
- 2024 Summer Reading for a Cause T-shirt
Adult Grand Prize:
- Filoli Historic House & Garden Annual Membership
- $75 gift card to Whole Foods
- 2024 Summer Reading for a Cause T-shirt
Featured Events
Leisure Noon Origami, part of a series
Pages of Joy: Handmade Booklet Making Workshop
What's Up Wednesday: Sterling the Bubblesmith
Sign Language Storytime
About Downtown Streets Team
We're excited to partner with Downtown Streets Team this summer! This local organization works towards restoring dignity, inspiring hope and providing a pathway for Team members to recover from homelessness. Teams engage in beautification and clean-up projects in our community, while receiving case management and employment placement services from trained specialists. We’re honored to support an organization that empowers people in our community.
Sponsors
We’re especially grateful to our Friends of the Palo Alto Library for providing the funding for our program and donation to Downtown Streets Team, and all other sponsors and partners whose gifts enhance our participants’ experiences.
