Read Books, Win Prizes
Delve into books both new and familiar as part of the Des Moines Public Library Reading Challenge, and win fun prizes along the way!
All you have to do is read a book from 12 of our 18 selected genre categories over 12 months. You can read books in any order, and we’ll even offer expert librarian reading suggestions.
When you complete the challenge visit any DMPL location to get your special finisher button! In addition to quarterly prizes and all finishers will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize at the end of the year.
If you need additional recommendations for each category submit a Book Chat request, and a librarian will make a personalized list of recommendations for you.
And if you’re a fast reader, keep an eye open for special bonus categories each month, too!
To register, you'll need to sign up for a Beanstack account, which takes just seconds.
When you're logged in, you'll be able to view and register for the 2024 DMPL Reading Challenge.
Bonus Categories
Need an extra challenge? At the beginning of every month we will announce a bonus category in our private Reading Challenge Facebook group, our Goodreads Group, on our social media channels, and right here on our website. Complete all 12 bonus categories before the end of the year to get an exclusive piece of library swag fit for a super reader.
The bonus categories, and reading suggestions for those categories will live here on this page. You do not need to complete the bonus category in the month it is announced, but you do need to complete all 12 bonus categories before the end of 2024 to get the special swag.
Be sure to track your progress in the bonus categories using our special Bonus Category Challenge on Beanstack!
January—Reread a book you love
February—Nonfiction by a Black author
March— A book by an author you haven't read before
April—Humor, comedy, or satirical writing
May—Floral Cover
June—Vacation and Travel
July—Happens over one week or less
August—YA or Middle Grade Book
September—A Bookish Book
October—Dark Academia
November—Recommended by a friend
2024 Reading Challenge FAQ
- Choose one book a month (12 total) from each of our 18 categories and log your progress online. You can read books and categories in any order - there are no assigned months. Find the categories below.
- We will offer suggestions, but feel free to choose any book that fits within a category.
- Books, audiobooks, and eBooks all count.
- A different book must be read for each different category.
- Participants who stay on track (i.e., have read three books in three months, six books in six months, etc.) will be eligible to win the quarterly prize. At the end of each quarter (March, June, September), we'll draw one prize gift card winner.
- Those who complete the challenge (read a book in each of 12 categories over the course of the year) will be eligible for the grand prize drawing, which includes one grand prize gift card winner and two runners-up gift card winners.
- You can always play catch-up! If you don't register until February, you can still be eligible for the monthly prize by reading two books by the end of the month, or for the first quarter prize by reading three books by the end of March. If you miss a month, read two books the next month to stay on track. If you don't register until November, you can still read 12 books before the end of 2024 and be eligible for the grand prize.
- Each month, we'll reveal our bonus category for our super readers. If you complete all 12 bonus categories over the course of the year, you'll receive an exclusive piece of library swag.
- Must be 18 years of age or older to participate. An individual that turns 18 over the course of the year may register and begin participating on or after their birthday.
- The challenge begins on January 1, 2024
- Tag us on social media or use our hashtag and let us know what you're reading: #DMPLReads24
- Join our Facebook Group - #DMPLReads24 - and talk about which books you're reading with other challenge participants
- Join our Goodreads Group to share your books too.
- Use Storygraph to publicly share how you're doing on the Reading Challenge.
The prize structure is as follows. Prizes are given out at the end of each quarter.
- March: 1 prize
- June: 1 prize
- September: 1 prize
- December: 1 grand prize and two runner-up prizes.
- 2024 AViD Author
- Book that comes out in the second half of 2024
- Book you meant to read in 2023 that you didn't get to
- Book where the main character or subject is over 50
- LGBTQ romance or love story
- Book that is out of your comfort zone or not what you would normally pick up