Welcome to the Library’s year-round reading challenges, where the joy of reading takes center stage! Challenge yourself to read every day to expand your knowledge, ease stress, and create mindful reading habits. What you read is up to you, but we have prompts to inspire reading beyond your usual picks. Whether you’re an avid reader or want to read more, join one (or more!) of these challenges to make reading an enriching part of your life.
How it works
1. Register at the Library's Reading Challenges website OR search “Beanstack” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to download the Beanstack app.
2. Track the time you spend reading, reading aloud, or having someone read to you, including audiobooks.
3. Measure your progress through Beanstack. Earn badges along the way towards your reading goal. 20 minutes a day will get you there!
4. Don’t go it alone! Encourage your friends and family to read with you and compete to see who reads the most through Leadership Boards on Beanstack.
2026 Reading Challenge Schedule
Spring Cleaning
March 1 - April 30
Whether you're buying more books at the Indy Indie Book Crawl, binging R.L. Stine's bibliography before the McFadden lecture on March 19th, or simply wanting room for more library books in your house, the Library's Spring Cleaning book challenge is for you! Participate by tracking the books you read as you read them.
2026 Indiana Firefly Early Literacy Award Challenge
March 7 - July 31, 2026
Children ages 0-5 who live in Indiana can participate in the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award. Read the five nominated titles together and have the child vote on their favorite. Votes are due by July 31, 2026. Learn more about the Indiana Firefly Early Literacy Award.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Promotes early learning skills by reading aloud! In this program prizes are awarded for reading 100, 500, and 1000 books. At 1000 books, every child receives a hardback picture book! Learn more about 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.
100 Books Before Graduation
Indianapolis students in grades 7-12 - your goal, should you choose to accept it, is to read 100 books before you graduate from high school. If you do, you will receive prizes as you participate! Learn more about 100 Books Before Graduation.