Be a Reading Machine This Winter with Rock Island Public Library: January is the perfect time to get cozy and start checking off your reading goals. The Rock Island Public Library is kicking off Be a Reading Machine winter reading challenge from Jan. 17 to Feb. 28 to help readers of all ages warm up those reading engines.

As a warm up to the challenge, the library is offering a self-serve Cocoa Bar Kickoff at all three library locations Friday, Jan. 17. From 11 am to 4 pm, participants can drop by the Rock Island Downtown Library, Southwest Branch, or Watts-Midtown Branch for a free cup of cocoa and registration prize, while supplies last. Information will be available for the online Beanstack program or the paper-based challenge. 

From Jan. 17 to Feb. 28, the RIPL “Be a Reading Machine” challenge encourages participants of all ages – children, teens, and adults – to read up to 300 minutes and complete up to five activities. The collective goal is to rack up 150,000 minutes of collective reading. Readers can keep track of their reading on the online Beanstack website or free app, or the paper reading log. 

Participants can register online at any time before or during the challenge, and all reading formats count toward the reading-minute goal. To log into Beanstack, visit https://rockislandlibrary.beanstack.org/users/sign_in. Paper reading logs are available at all library locations and via the library website.

Each digital/paper badge earned equals one entry for grand prize basket drawings. Children who earn any badge can claim a gift book. Teens ages 12 to 18 earning at least 5 badges are automatically entered into Whitey’s gift card drawings. 

The reading challenge ends at close of the day on February 28, with prizes drawn on March 3. Winners will be contacted.

For more information about library services and upcoming events for a wide range of ages, visit the Rock Island Public Library website, call 309-732-READ, or follow the Rock Island Library Facebook and Instagram social media sites .