Hit it, Read City! Come play your part on Read City's "All Together Now" tour. Mayor Jacobs has challenged us to go platinum by reading one million hours in 2023! To participate, read and log at least 36 hours in each scheduled stop on the tour. See schedule and prizes below.
Find Your Voice
Our first gig! A great ensemble is a blend of many voices. To get started, pick up a reading log at your library, print your own, or log online with the Beanstack Tracker app.
Read just 36 hours then return to the library for your prize by April 8.
Note-worthy Prizes
Earn a prize when you complete each "All Together Now" reading challenge in 2023. (36 hours each.) One prize per challenge; while supplies last.
Prizes will differ in each challenge. Those shown below may be earned in the Find Your Voice challenge.
Grand prize drawing
Major news! Win a gaming system, iPad, or party with the Mayor!
Participants who complete all three challenges will automatically be entered in a grand prize drawing in one of three categories: Youth, Adult, or Group. Participants must complete all three challenges and be registered in Beanstack. See rules and eligibility requirements.
- One grand prize will be awarded in each category. Youth and Adult prizes are reserved for individual registrants. Group prize is for a registered group with 2 or more active readers.
- Individual grand prize for Youth: Switch or similar (approximate value $300)
- Individual grand prize for Adult: iPad 9th generation or higher (approximate value $350)
- Group grand prize: Celebration with the Mayor tailored to your group for up to 100 individuals (value up to $500)
- Each eligible individual or group will be entered one time. Entry is not based on hours read.
- Participants must have a Beanstack account. Individuals must provide complete name, email, and age. Groups must provide leader's name, email, and average age of participants.
- Participants must have earned the completion badge in all three 2023 Knox County Public Library Beanstack challenges: Find Your Voice, Feel the Beat, and Let's Play.
- Only one grand prize per household.
- Knox County Public Library Staff and immediate family are not eligible for grand prizes.
- Names will be drawn after the last challenge is completed and tallied. Winners will be contacted by December 31, 2023.
Tour schedule
This year, in order to meet our million-hour reading goal, we'll complete three reading challenges.
Challenge #1 - Find Your Voice
Melody & Kindness
Your voice matters, and so does everyone else's. Let's listen to each other.
- Read 36 hours
- January 24–April 8
One Book Read City
Book to be revealed soon!
- Join Knox County Schools this May
Challenge #2 - Feel the Beat
Rhythm & Friendship
What moves you? Kick off the slammin' summer challenge at the Children's Festival of Reading.
- Read 36 hours
- May 20–August 5
Challenge #3 - Let's Play!
Harmony & Unity
Everybody plays a part. Together we can make marvelous music!
- Read 36 hours
- September 30–December 9
Read City USA
Led by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, READ CITY USA is a collaborative initiative of Knox County Government, Knox County Public Library, Knox County Schools, and other community organizations to help all children learn to read early and well, thereby reaching their full potential in school and in life.
Print your own Read City activities
Recommended titles for teens. Topics include music, kindness, belonging, self-expression, and using your voice to lead
Recommended picture books, nonfiction, and audiobooks for kids. Topics include music, kindness, belonging, self-expression, and using your voice to lead
Let your voice be heard loud and clear with this paper microphone craft.
