The York County Libraries (YCL) library system invites community members to take the Beanstack Winter Reading Challenge through Jan. 31. Sponsored by Simon & Schuster's Books Like Us program, the fourth annual challenge encourages community members of all ages to read in support of libraries and schools. A total of 344,000 readers nationwide joined the January 2020 challenge, collectively logging over 5 million minutes of reading.

This will be the second time that YCL is participating. Last year, the 464 active readers who participated in the YCL challenge logged a total of 414,000 minutes read, according to YCL digital services librarian Katherine Dannehl. Dannehl notes that again this year, YCL challenges each of its participants to read 500 minutes or more to help YCL reach its goal of 400,000 minutes.

The challenge is open to people of all ages. Participants only need a free York County Libraries card, which is available at http://www.yorklibraries.org and at all library locations. Community members who already have a library card can sign up to participate in the challenge at http://www.yorklibraries.beanstack.org. Participants may use the Beanstack app to log their reading minutes.

As part of the Winter Reading Challenge, Simon & Schuster will award prizes, including book collections and virtual author visits by authors such as Cozbi Cabrera, Sharon Draper, Stuart Gibbs, and Stephen Graham Jones, to top-performing libraries and schools across the country.

Community members with questions about the challenge may visit https://yorklibraries.beanstack.org/contact.

More information about YCL's programs, services, and resources is available at http://www.yorklibraries.org.