Case Study: Gwinnett County Public Library drives year-round reading engagement with Beanstack

Rethinking Seasonal Reading Challenges for Year Long Learning

Gwinnett County Public Library faced a 59% drop in summer reading participation over six years. The challenge became more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic, which eliminated all in-person programming and forced the library to find new ways to engage its community. The library partnered with Beanstack to move its reading challenges online and develop new virtual engagement strategies.

The solution implemented with Beanstack was a shift from a single summer program to a continuous series of shorter, thematic multimedia challenges. Beanstack's platform allowed for embedded videos, social media integration, and unique "pop-up" badges to drive engagement. This new approach, combined with a partnership with the local school district to align challenges with the curriculum, resulted in 78% of surveyed participants reporting a positive impact, successfully revitalizing the library's reading program.

Gwinnett County Public Library

Don Giacomini

Youth Services Specialist