Read, Learn and Explore with the double Summer Break Challenge!
May 19, 2020
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library encourages reading and learning all year long. The summer months, when students take a break from school, are critical to expanded learning. In fact, summertime poses the most academic risk because students without access to summer learning opportunities can fall behind their peers, creating an achievement gap that is hard to close.
To keep kids on track with important matters such as literacy and physical activity, the Library offers Summer Break, annual summer learning program that encourages children to read, learn and explore.
With library locations currently closed due to the state’s stay-at-home order, the Library has made some changes to the Summer Break program this year. This year, the program runs June 1 – August 8 with registration beginning on June 1. There will also be two separate—yet related—challenges:
- Summer Break: At Home (June 1-30) – All participants – babies, children, teens and adults – are challenged to stay at home and read 15 million minutes as a community while working towards earning virtual badges.
- Summer Break: Reading Takes You Everywhere (July 1-August 8) - The community is challenged to read another 20 million minutes and, in addition to more virtual badges, participants can earn prizes.
Participants can sign up for Summer Break: At Home beginning June 1, and once signed up, will be automatically added to the second challenge. Participants can also pre-register for Summer Break: Reading Takes You Everywhere on June 15.
Also new this year, there is a mobile app called “Beanstack Tracker” where participants can create a free online account to track reading time, learning and leisure activities throughout the program. It’s easy to use:
- Download the app through your App store by searching “Beanstack Tracker,” made by Zoobean and downloading it to your phone or other device
- Create an account with your email address for just you, or your whole family, and search for “Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.” Then, select the challenge Summer Break: At Home
- Track activities online to collect virtual badges
Summer Break participants complete the program after achieving 600 points either through reading, or with a combination of reading and learning activities. During Summer Break: Reading Takes You Everywhere (July 1 – August 8) participants can earn a Wendy’s Jr. Frosty coupon at sign up and a prize at completion. Prizes may be available after July 1, pending library operations. Prizes are available while supplies last.
1) Visit 
2) Enter your Library card number, ONE Access ID or username; then enter your PIN and click Log In. If you’ve never accessed your account through the Library’s website before, you will be asked to create a new account. Tip: When you create an account in Bibliocommons (the name for the Library’s catalog system), you will be asked to create a username. For future logins, you can use either your Library card number/ONE Access ID or the username you create.
to cancel one hold, click the Cancel hold button next to the appropriate item. 
If you want to cancel multiple holds, check the box next to each of the items you want to cancel. You should see that a red box has appeared at the bottom of your screen. Click on Manage Items, then click on Cancel holds. The system will ask you to confirm that you do want to cancel those holds.
1) Log in to the mobile app using your Library card or ONE Access ID and your PIN.
2) The items you currently have checked out will be listed first. Scroll down to the section titled Waiting on Availability. Press the Cancel button next to each item you want to cancel.
How to pause holds using the Library’s website on a PC, smartphone or tablet
you can be assured that your hold will not come in until sometime after the date you choose.
If you want to pause multiple holds using the same date, check the box next to each item you want to pause. You should see that a red box has appeared at the bottom of your screen. Click on Manage Items, then click on Pause holds. You’ll have the opportunity to Select a date from a calendar, then click on Yes, pause holds.
How to suspend holds using the CMLibrary mobile app
We all know that reading is important, but did you know that children and teens who do not read over the summer may experience 2-3 months of learning loss by the time school starts back in the fall? Reading is just as important for adults, as it keeps adult brains flexible and nimble. Plus, adults who read serve as great role models for kids. That is why the Library recommends at least 20 minutes of reading per day for everyone – of all ages – all summer long.
