Story provided by Stillwater Public Library

The Stillwater Public Library’s ‘Winter Read-a-thon’ officially launched on Dec. 1, and library patrons are already tracking their reading and earning prizes. The program runs through Dec. 31, and all ages are eligible to participate.

The library requires registration via Beanstack, the same online reading tracking platform and app used for the summer reading program. Participants can visit the site directly at stillwaterok.beanstack.org to sign up or go through the library’s winter reading webpage stillwaterok.gov/LibraryWinter.

The one main difference about this year’s winter reading program is the inclusion of an optional fundraising component.

“Helping with the fundraiser is pretty simple,” said Elizabeth Murray, children’s librarian. “Beanstack creates a donation page for each participant that can easily be shared with friends and family. We’ve been raising money for the Library Trust as a part of our centennial all year, and the read-a-thon provides a fun way to encourage reading and help the library at the same time.”

Librarians are also seeing enthusiastic participation from children in what has become Murray’s favorite component of winter reading, searching for the library’s winter reading mascot. This year’s representative is a blue piggy bank named Pierre.

“For the past two years, we’ve had a mascot that roams the library during the winter reading program just waiting to be found,” Murray said. “Kids get so excited to find the mascot and bring it to the Help Desks to get a small prize and then take their turn hiding it.”

Readers will also earn incentives for their reading:

·         5, 10, 15 & 20 hours read: Readers of all ages will earn a small prize and get an entry into the grand prize drawing for their age group (children, teens or adults). A total of four prizes can be earned.

·         10 hours read: Children and teens earn a free book. Adults receive a free book coupon for the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library’s used book sale.

·         25+ hours read: Prizes can no longer be earned, but participants will still get an entry in the grand prize drawing for every additional 5 hours read.

·         Grand prize drawing: At the end of the program, one reader from each group will win a $50 gift card to the local bookstore of their choice. Winners will be announced on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.

The read-a-thon also takes place alongside the library’s “$100 for 100 Years” fundraising campaign, a final request in 2023 for the community to consider helping the library preserve and expand its legacy by contributing $1 to the Library Trust for every year of the library’s service to Stillwater. To learn more about the library’s centennial or how to donate, visit stillwaterok.gov/SPL100.

Participation in the winter reading program is free, open to the public and sponsored by the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library and numerous local businesses who provide coupons as reading incentives, including Blue Spruce, Boomarang Diner, Chick-fil-A, Mazzio’s Pizza, McAlisters, Old School Bagel, Stillwater Sweets Bakery, Texas Roadhouse, The Garage, and Whataburger.

The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. Library hours are Monday- Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.