Get Started with Beanstack Video

Beanstack is an easy way to keep track of all the books you read. When you create a Beanstack account for yourself or your family, you're instantly connected to Wichita Public Library's reading challenges, so you'll get credit for every minute and every page. We'll keep all your stats for you, cheer you on while you work towards your program goals, and let you know when you've earned prizes. When your program ends, you keep your account and your reading history. It's always free and you can keep logging your leisure reading. When the next challenge comes around, you won't need to register again—just click on it and you're in!

Search for Beanstack in your device's app store. It is free to download and use.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What if I don't know if I have a Beanstack account?

  You can check whether you have an account a couple different ways. In the app, look up Wichita Public Library. That will take you to a sign-in screen for our service. Then use the Forgot Password? link with the email address you think you would have used to create an account. You can also contact the Library and a staff member will assist you.

• My child was registered for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten prior to September 16, 2019. Do I need to make a new account for Beanstack?

  No. All your books came over from our previous tracking system, so we already have an account for you. If you need your login information, give us a call at 261-8500 and we can look it up for you.

• I have previously registered for ReadICT or one of the summer reading programs. Do I need to make a new account in Beanstack?

  No, your account should still exist. If you need help obtaining your login information, give us a call at (316) 261-8500 and we can look it up for you.

• May I add more than one reader to my account?

  Of course. You can set up as many profiles as you like, for readers of any age. And if you're a parent who reads aloud to more than one kid at a time, you can credit that reading time to multiple children's accounts with a single click—no need to log it in separately for each of your avid listeners.

• How do I update my password?

  In the app, tap the "gear" icon at the bottom right and then select Account. The main account holder will be listed. Tap on the name of that person, and then you edit your password.

• How do I log my reading or activities?

  It's so easy! Tap the big plus sign on the bottom menu, and select Reading. You can simply scan the ISBN barcode on the back of your book using your phone. Boom, you're done. Seriously, the Beanstack mobile app makes it that easy. If you want to get fancy, you can also enter the number of pages, minutes, or hours that you read. You can also manually enter the ISBN or Title.

  If the challenge you're participating in uses Activities – like the #ReadICT Reading Challenge – you will tap the big plus sign and choose Activity. The available activities will display on your screen. Choose the category you want to log, and enter your Title.

  If you or another reader on your account is signed up for multiple challenges at once, such as the #ReadICT and Big Read Circe Challenges, you might find it easier to log activities from within that specific challenge. From the Home screen, scroll down to the Current Challenges and find the one for which you want to log activities. You'll see the list of available activities (or categories). Choose the one you want to log and follow the instructions.

  Alternatively, you can log your books and activities through the Beanstack website.

• How can I see what I've completed so far?

  On the bottom menu, second from the left is your Log. From there, you can see what books, activities, and badges you've completed. If you want to see your progress in a specific challenge, you can go to that challenge. On the Home screen, scroll down to the Current Challenges heading and find the one you want to view. For example, if you go to the #ReadICT Challenge, you can see which activity badges you've earned and which still need to be completed specific to that challenge.

• Can I sign up for more than one program at a time?

  Most of our challenges are designed by age. You're welcome to sign up for any program designed for your age range.

• How can I log an activity or a book for a specific challenge?

  In the app, tap the plus sign in the bottom center. Depending on how the challenge is set up, choose Log Reading or Log Activity:

  • #ReadICT Reading Challenge: ReadICT is an activity-based challenge, so you would choose Log Activity. Since the challenge is based on reading a particular category, not just a certain number of books, it is considered an activity. Alternatively, you can go to the challenge and work through the categories that way. From the Home page, scroll down to Current Challenges and find ReadICT. Find the category you want to log a book for, and enter it into the appropriate text box under that category.
  • 1000 Books Before Kindergarten: 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a reading-based challenge, so you'd choose Log Reading. The challenge is to read 1000 books, so you will log the books you've read.

  You can also track your reading for fun! If you want to keep track of your reading, choose Log Reading.

• In the ReadICT challenge, I want to move a book to another category. How can I do that?

  In the Beanstack app or on the Beanstack website, go to the category where you have used the book and select "Edit Answer" to put a different book in that category. Then go into your new category and then type the name and author of the book you had in the old category.

• If I log a book in Beanstack, does it automatically count toward reading in my challenge?

  It depends. Beanstack doesn't automatically count activities completed as books read, even if the activity is reading a certain book. Therefore, books logged will not count toward an activities challenge like ReadICT. In a time-based challenge like Kids Read or Teens Read, it is important to log the amount of time you spent reading, even if you didn't finish the book in one sitting. When you're registered for a reading-based challenge like 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, logging a book will count towards that challenge.

• How do I get the prizes I earn in Beanstack?

  Every time you reach a reading milestone, you'll win a badge – a little, digital fist bump to celebrate the quality time your brain and your books have spent together. Sometimes those milestones will come with real prizes from the Library. We'll let you know so you can come in and claim your reward.

• How do I switch between reader accounts on the app?

  At the top right there is a circle with either the initials of you or one of your readers, or a profile picture if you've added one. Tap the circle to get to a list of all your readers.

• How do I switch between accounts on different Beanstack sites in the app?

  In the mobile app, you can connect multiple accounts from different Beanstack sites and easily toggle between them.

  In order to connect a new account within the app:

  1. Tap the Settings icon at the top right corner of the screen.
  2. On the Settings screen, select the Account option.
  3. Once on the Accounts screen, tap "Add Account."
  4. Select the appropriate organization type for the account you'd like to add. If you're looking for another library, a school, or bookstore site, search for them and then sign into an existing account or create a new account for that Beanstack site.

  Once you've connected accounts from different Beanstack sites, you can toggle between them:

  1. Tap your reader icon in the top right corner of your screen.
  2. Next to the account name, select "Change."
  3. In the pop-up window, pick the account to which you'd like to switch to.

• My child is listed as a reader under my account but their other parent would like to add to the log in Beanstack. How can we do that?

  This setting is only available through the Beanstack website. It is not found in the app. To share a reader:

  1. Log in to the account creator's account. Click the reader name in the upper right corner of the screen, then click the name of the reader you'd like to share in order to move to their reader view.
  2. Click the edit button to the right of the reader's name to edit the reader's options.
  3. Once on the options page, scroll down to "Share this reader" and enter the email address of the person you'd like to share with.

  The email recipient will receive a message saying the account creator wants to share the reader. The recipient will be prompted to create their own Beanstack account or enter a code to add the reader to an existing account. Find the "Share Code" link at the bottom of the linked web page and enter the code to link the reader.

• How do I find current or upcoming challenges and a list of activities?

  The icon at the bottom, second from the right, is Discover. Tap that icon to get to a list of current and upcoming challenges. Below the current and upcoming challenges, Beanstack lists any past challenges for which you were registered. There is also a tab to take you to a list of activities if you are registered for an activity-based challenge like ReadICT.

• I am stuck and/or need further assistance.

  We are here to help. Stop by any Library location, call (316) 261-8500, or set up a Book-A-Librarian appointment to get assistance with Beanstack!