BRODHEAD — The Brodhead Memorial Public Library invites area residents to join its Winter Reading Challenge, running Jan. 1 to 31. 

Those interested in participating can register online at https://brodheadlibrary.beanstack.org and track reading progress and activities via the website or by downloading the Beanstack Tracker App to smart phones or devices.  

The library is offering two challenges. One challenge is for elementary-school aged participants and will run in tandem with the reading challenge offered at Albrecht Elementary School. Children are encouraged to report minutes read to both the school and the library. A second challenge is available for participants ages 12 to 120. Both challenges offer the chance to win entries towards a number of grand prizes.  

For those with children not yet in school, the library now offers its popular 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program via Beanstack. The 1,000 Books program encourages parents and caregivers to read aloud to children from birth until children enter kindergarten. The library offers early literacy tips to parents and caregivers — and rewards — along the way to help make sure kids entering kindergarten are ready to start reading.  

For questions about any of these programs, or to place holds or schedule appointments to pick up items, please call the library at 608-897-4070.