Reader Zone Glossary & FAQs

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What is a Group?

A Group is an activity within a reading program. It can be logging reading or confirming that you've done an activity. You can join all the groups within a program, or decide just to join a few. However, if you don't join the Reading Log group for Maynard's summer programs, we can't track how much you've been reading and you will miss out on prizes.

 

Who is a Reader?

A Reader is a person who joins a reading program. Teens, you can be in charge of the account AND be the reader. Parents, you can be in charge of the account and add all of your children as readers. 

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What does the Code do?

Each reading program in Reader Zone has a 5-character code. You join a program by entering that code. This means you can join ANY reading program hosted on Reader Zone, regardless of hosting library, without creating a separate account.

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What are Awards?

Awards are digital badges readers receive for logging their reading and completing activities. In the Children's program, they are just for fun and highlight your achievements over the summer. For the Teen program, these badges highlight your achievements over the summer AND indicate that teen participants have earned a prize.

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Why do I have to log a "YES" for some groups?

Reader Zone has two main kinds of logs - Reading Logs, and Yes/No logs. A reading log tracks your reading - Maynard tracks this in minutes for your general reading, and the Teen program also tracks Books for the Teen Choice Book Award group and Categories group. A Yes/No log tracks if you have completed an action or activity - by logging YES, you are saying you completed that activity. 

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How do I log a "YES"?

On the app, tap the word YES on the screen, then tap Confirm Entry. There will be a pop-up saying you successfully made an entry. For some groups, the app will give you the chance to attach a photo to that YES entry. Attach a photo if needed (ex: Teens' Summer Challenge: Build a Puzzle).

• As of June 4, 2025, photos can ONLY be uploaded on the app from your phone's gallery, and can ONLY be viewed on your Progress timeline within the app. Photos are not able to be added on the desktop site, and are not visible on the desktop site or by library staff. Reader Zone is currently working to make photos possible on the desktop site and visible to library staff for the purposes of finishing activities. 

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Can I log multiple "YES" activities at once?

No. Each YES entry has to be done separately.

• On the desktop site, this is simple - just keep adding YES entries to that group.

• The app only allows 1 YES entry per group per day. To make multiple entries on the app, you will have to backdate entries. Alternatively, you can email Ms. Casey at cpetipas-haggerty@minlib.net and ask her to log more YES entries. Just let her know which group(s) you would like to add an entry to, and any other information requested by her or Mr. Mark to consider the activity completed.  

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What happens if I log "NO"?

Nothing. The confirmation screen will pop up saying with your total YES entries to date, and that number will not change if you say No. 

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What is a Book Bank?

• Reader Zone's Book Bank is made of 2 lists: a Books to Read list and a Books I Have Read list.

• For Teens, if you join the Teen Choice Book Award group the Book Bank will include all of the nominees in the To Be Read list. To confirm you've read one of those titles, just select "Mark as Read."

• You can add books to the Books To Read list to remind yourself of what you want to read, or you can wait until you are done with a book, and add it under the Books I Have Read list immediately.

• If you re-read a book, or need to log a book bank title for a different Group (ex: Teens read a book that fits multiple categories) tap the "Read Again" button.

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Can I go backdate/batch log my Reading Log?

• In both the app and on the desktop site, you can backdate a reading entry by entering a Past Entry. That past entry can be as big or small as needed.

• On the app, you can batch log your reading by tapping "Input Time" instead of starting the timer and entering the amount of reading, in minutes, you want to log. The desktop site is similar to the app, but since it does not have a built in timer all you have to do is click the big "Add Entry" button and input time.