Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story - Northwest Georgia Regional Library System

Open to all ages!

Important Dates

May 18: Registration begins
May 25: Start logging your reading
July 10: Last day to log your reading
July 24: Grand prize winners notified
July 24 – August 28: Pick up certificates and grand prizes

Read and Win Prizes

The library challenges kids, teens, and adults to read this summer for a chance to earn grand prizes! We have a challenge for each age group with sign-ups beginning May 18.

The Challenge

Read and log the required amount of time for your age group by 11:59 p.m. on July 10. The grade levels below are for the upcoming school year.

Kids (birth – 5th grade) – read or be read to for 12 hours. (For kids not yet reading, being read to counts!)
Teens (6th – 12th grade) – read for 14 hours.
Adults (18+) – read for 14 hours.

Prizes

Participants will receive pizes for certain accomplishments:

All who register will receive a reading challenge start-up package.
All participants who complete the challenge will receive a small completion prize and be entered into our grand prize drawing. We will award at least three grand prizes in each age group. Winners will be notified by July 24; prizes and certificates must be collected between July 24 – August 28. Prizes not collected by August 28 will be forfeit.
New this year, participants will have the opportunity to earn a prize by completing two of the activities listed in the Summer Reading Challenge on Beanstack.
Branches may add in additional prize opportunities, so check with your branch for information on branch-specific prizes!

How to Register

Registration begins May 18. You have two options to register:

Option 1: Register online through Beanstack. If you already have a Beanstack account, there’s no need to create a new one. Simply log into your existing account to join the 2026 Summer Reading Challenge.
- Browser
  1. Go to https://ngrl.beanstack.org.
  2. Click on “Register an individual or family” — One account per household; you can add additional readers of all ages under a single family account.
  3. Fill in the requested information and submit.
  4. Add a reader or complete your profile.
  5. Select your challenge(s).
- Mobile
  1. Download the free Beanstack Tracker app from the App Store or Google Play
  2. Search for the “Northwest Georgia Regional Library System” as your site.
  3. Click on “Sign up” to create an account; it will create a family account.
  4. Fill in the requested information and submit.
  5. Add a reader or complete your profile.
  6. Select your challenge(s).
Option 2: Visit your local branch to register in person and get a paper log.

Track Your Reading

Start tracking your reading on May 25. You have two options to log your reading:

Option 1: Log your reading online or via the mobile app.
- Visit https://ngrl.beanstack.org or open the Beanstack Tracker app.
- Select the challenge, if necessary.
- Go to the “Logging Badges” tab and enter the time read, title, and author of the book.
  - Time can be entered as minutes or hours read.
  - For each hour you complete, a badge icon will change from gray to full color and appear in the “Earned Badges” tab.
  - All badges must be logged by 11:59 p.m. on July 10 to be counted.
Option 2: Log your reading by paper. If you signed up at the library and asked for a paper log, you can track your reading that way.
- On each log, write your or the participant’s first name, last name, age (for minors), and phone number.
- Paper logs must be turned in to the library by close of business on Friday, July 10.
- For any questions, please contact your local library.
  - Calhoun-Gordon County Public Library: 706-624-1456
    - Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  - Chatsworth-Murray County Public Library: 706-695-4200
    - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    - Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  - Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library: 706-876-1360
    - Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    - Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

What to Read

Anything you want — digital and physical books, magazines, audiobooks, comics, manga, articles, and more are all eligible.

Events

Join us for programs like fun crafts, activities, and special performers. Visit our Events page or download and print a copy of the calendar.

Special Performers

Join us for these special performances for all ages across the region!

About the Performers

Animal Adventures – An interactive and educational live animal program. Unearth some knowledge about animals.
La Candela Flamenco – Join us and unearth your love of Flamenco dancing with this live dance performance
Magician Bill Packard – Unearth the power of magic with this amazing show.
Magician Tommy Johns – Join us for a fun-filled magic show.
Storyteller Babatunde – Unearth some fantastic stories and wonderful music.
Tennessee Aquarium – Participants will observe and interact with three ambassador animals and corresponding biofacts while learning about their amazing adaptations and habitats.
Ventriloquist Gene Cordova – Ventriloquism and laugh-out-loud comedy will help unearth the adventure of reading.

Calhoun-Gordon

Monday, June 1 @ 11 a.m. – Tennesee Aquarium – Pre-registration is required, one time-slot only
Monday, June 1 @ 12 p.m. – Tennesee Aquarium – Pre-registration is required, one time-slot only
Monday, June 1 @ 1 p.m. – Tennesee Aquarium – Pre-registration is required, one time-slot only
Monday, June 8 @ 11 a.m. at the GEM Theatre – La Candela Flamenco
Monday, June 15 @ 11 a.m. at the GEM Theatre – Animal Adventures
Monday, June 22 @ 11 a.m. at the GEM Theatre – Magician Tommy Johns
Monday, June 29 @ 11 a.m. at the GEM Theatre – Storyteller Babatunde
Monday, July 6 @ 11 a.m. at the GEM Theatre – Magician Bill Packard

Chatsworth-Murray

Tuesday, June 2 @ 11 a.m. – Ventriloquist Gene Cordova
Tuesday, June 9 @ 11 a.m. – La Candela Flamenco
Tuesday, June 16 @ 11 a.m. at the Murray County Rec Department – Animal Adventures
Tuesday, June 23 @ 11 a.m. – Storyteller Babatunde
Tuesday, June 30 @ 11 a.m. – Magician Tommy Johns
Tuesday, July 7 @ 11 a.m. – Magician Bill Packard

Dalton-Whitfield

Tuesday, June 2 @ 3 p.m. – Ventriloquist Gene Cordova
Wednesday, June 3 @ 2 p.m. at Dug Gap Elementary School – Ventriloquist Gene Cordova
Thursday, June 4 @ 11 a.m. at North Whitfield Middle School – La Candela Flamenco
Tuesday, June 9 @ 3 p.m. – La Candela Flamenco
Wednesday, June 10 @ 2 p.m. at Eastside Elementary School – La Candela Flamenco
Thursday, June 11 @ 11 a.m. at Dawnville Elementary School – Storyteller Babatunde
Tuesday, June 16 @ 3 p.m. – Animal Adventures
Wednesday, June 17 @ 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Elementary School – Animal Adventures
Thursday, June 18 @ 11 a.m. at Westside Middle School – Animal Adventures
Tuesday, June 23 @ 3 p.m. – Storyteller Babatunde
Tuesday, June 30 @ 3 p.m. – Magician Tommy Johns
Tuesday, July 7 @ 3 p.m. – Magician Bill Packard

Why Participate in the Summer Reading Challenge?

Library summer reading programs are designed to encourage:

Spending more time reading over the summer
Improving reading and vocabulary skills
Increasing enjoyment of reading
Increasing motivation to read
Increasing confidence in reading
Preparing kids to return to school ready to learn without the “Summer Slide”

Questions?

Call or visit your local library!

Calhoun-Gordon County Public Library: 706-624-1456
Chatsworth-Murray County Public Library: 706-695-4200
Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library: 706-876-1360