BIG Summer Read 
JOIN. BORROW. PLAY. WIN!
December 2023 - January 2024
The BIG Summer Read is back!
Read 10 books over summer, collect incentives and be in the running to win great prizes!
Major Prizes:
- 0-8 years: $100 book voucher, $50 Smiggle voucher (x2)
- 13-18 years: $100 book voucher, $100 EB Games voucher
Branch Prizes:
- $20 book vouchers
Creative Colouring Challenge:
- Art pack (0-8 years and 9-12 years)
Summer is the perfect time for children to indulge in books and stories and read for pleasure! Join in the BIG Summer Read for your chance to win some great prizes including book vouchers and gift cards.
The BIG Summer Read, developed by Public Libraries Victoria, aims to raise awareness of the benefits of reading over summer and ensure primary-school children continue to build on the skills learned at school. Research has identified a phenomenon known as the 'summer slide', which refers to the loss of literacy skills over the summer holidays when children do not read. This is estimated to be the equivalent of 2-3 months of reading proficiency.
Let's work together to slow the slide! Together, we are aiming to engage 10,000 children in the program!
There are two ways to participate - online, or on paper. Online registrations are now open. Visit the PLV Beanstack page to get started. Paper booklets will be available from your local library in early December.
Online
Online registrations are now open.
- Go to the Public Libraries Victoria (PLV) Beanstack reading challenge page (You might want to bookmark this so you can find it easily when registering each new book you read)
- Click "Register an Individual or Family"
- Register parent/guardian and any children who would like to participate. You can register multiple readers.
- Use 'Goldfields Libraries' as your primary library
Once registered you can log reading on the site, or via the Beanstack app. Children under 13 will need an adult to sign them up.
Paper
Pick up a paper reading log from your local library, or download one here (1.3MB). Please remember to return your completed log to the library by Wednesday 31 January, 2024.
FAQ's
What is Beanstack?
Beanstack is an application that incentivises reading and allows users to keep track of how many books/audiobooks have been read.
A mobile app (also known as Beanstack Tracker) makes this easy with features including a barcode scanner and reading timer.
What ages is the challenge aimed at?
The challenge is aimed at primary-school aged children, but is open to anyone under 18 years of age.
What are the challenges?
The challenges encourage participants to borrow and read a broad range of books/audiobooks and include a variety of simple STEAM activities. The challenges are added beneath 5 activity badges (one for each mascot) – all badges are needed to complete the challenge.
All challenges will be released at the start of the program and can be completed at any time.