Reading program software for public libraries

Run reading programs your community wants to join.

Reader Zone helps public libraries create summer and year-round programs, make participation simple, keep readers engaged, and share community progress.

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Purpose-built for public-library reading programs, with direct support from the Reader Zone team.

Reader Zone Programs dashboard showing summer, year-round, and milestone reading programs with groups, metrics, and progress
Reader Zone mobile app screens showing Book Bank, a reading timer, progress, and multiple readers in one account
How it works

Build, engage, and celebrate.

  1. Reader Zone reading metric choices for minutes, pages, chapters, books, participation, and a custom metric
    01

    Build your program.

    Choose the audience, dates, reading metric, goals, Awards, and Activities.

  2. Reader Zone mobile app screens used by readers and families to log reading and follow progress
    02

    Invite your community.

    Readers join by code, log through the app or web, and follow their progress.

  3. Reader Zone reader management view showing activity, reading totals, Awards, Tasks, and progress
    03

    Engage and celebrate.

    Send custom messages, see participation as it happens, and share program results.

Reader Zone mobile app screens showing an Award, Book Bank, reading timer, family reader selection, and a completed reading entry
Reader Zone public signup card with a QR code and App Store and Google Play options
Patron experience

Make participation easy.

Readers can join, log reading, see their progress, and return to the book. Families can manage multiple Readers, and staff can support patrons who participate offline.

  • Use the iOS or Android app, or the Desktop Reader Portal
  • Manage multiple Readers from one family account
  • Track books in the Book Bank and see Awards and progress
  • Use the mobile reader experience in English or Spanish
  • Let staff support offline participants with Internal Readers
Program flexibility

Build a program that fits your community.

Create appropriate experiences for children, teens, adults, branches, and other audiences within one connected reading program.

ProgramCommunity ReadingOne shared initiative
GroupEarly readersBooks and milestones
GroupTeensMinutes and Activities
GroupAdultsBooks and challenges

Choose the structure you need.

One Reading Program can contain multiple Groups and Activities. Each can use its own dates, metric, goals, Awards, questions, Book Bank, Tasks, and participation settings.

Start with Quick Start, use Advanced Setup when you need more control, or clone a successful Program when it is time to run it again.

Reader Zone group metric choices for minutes, pages, chapters, books, Yes or No participation, and a custom metric
Each Group or Activity can track the measure that makes sense for its readers.
Maintain momentum

Keep readers engaged.

Send timely reminders, share event news, recognize milestones, and celebrate progress throughout the program.

Your staff chooses the message, audience, and schedule.

Reader Zone organizer controls for notifying readers by push notification or email
Connect

Library-controlled communication

Send or schedule email and push messages for a Program, Group or Activity, or selected participants. Share reading reminders, event news, deadlines, and celebrations.

Recognize

Progress and Awards

Create milestone Awards and let Readers see their own progress. Use Award messages to connect a digital achievement with a library prize when appropriate.

Motivate

Competition and incentives

Use leaderboards, Raffles, Tasks, or personal goals based on what motivates each audience.

Live participation

See participation as it happens.

The Activity Feed and Reader, Group, and Program views show participation while there is still time to encourage readers or adjust communication.

Spot momentum
See entries, joined Readers, Awards, books, and goal progress.
Support individuals
Review a Reader Page, correct entries, add Notes, and help with program changes.
Manage together
Give staff scoped access to the Programs and Groups they support.
Reader Zone reader page showing an adult winter reading challenge activity feed, reading total, Book Bank, Awards, Tasks, Notes, and entry controls

Share and celebrate success.

Turn reading activity into clear updates for patrons, boards, city leaders, Friends groups, funders, and the wider community.

Reader Zone Reports dashboard with program overview, total reading activity, organization totals, filters, and PDF and CSV export controls
Sample program data shown. Filter participation, review totals, and export reports.
01
Report
Download Reader, Award, Group, and Program spreadsheets for deeper analysis or a stakeholder update.
02
Share
Create a Progress Badge that can be downloaded, shared, or embedded on your library website.
03
Celebrate
Make the community's reading visible while the program runs and when the final totals are ready.
Year-round programs

Keep summer momentum going all year.

Use the same Reader Zone account to carry participation and reading habits into programs throughout the year.

  • 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
  • Winter and seasonal reading
  • Teen and adult challenges
  • Book clubs and genre challenges
  • Monthly and milestone programs
Children and families gathered for storytime in a public library
Reader Zone handles the mechanics so library staff can put more attention into building a culture of reading.
Human support

Get help from people who understand reading programs.

Paid plans include priority support by email, chat, or phone. Annual plans include a live onboarding session with the Reader Zone team.

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Pricing

Choose the plan that fits your program.

Compare Annual, Monthly, and 90-day Summer plans by expected reader capacity.

See pricing
Library buyer FAQ

Questions library teams ask.

Current answers about setup, participation, reporting, pricing, and support.

Can Reader Zone work for children, teens, and adults?

Yes. One Reading Program can include multiple Groups or Activities, and each can have its own dates, tracking method, goals, Awards, questions, and Book Bank. Libraries can also run separate Programs for different audiences.

Can we run summer and year-round reading programs?

Yes. Reader Zone supports multiple Programs in one account, including summer reading, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, winter reading, adult and teen challenges, book clubs, genre challenges, and other library programs.

Can parents manage multiple readers?

Yes. A parent or guardian can manage multiple Readers from one account, even when siblings participate in different Groups or Programs.

What if a patron does not use a smartphone?

Readers can join and log through the Desktop Reader Portal. Staff can also create Internal Readers and manage participation on their behalf, including reading submitted offline.

What can Reader Zone track?

Reader Zone can track minutes, pages, books, chapters, Yes/No participation, and custom Activity metrics. Different Groups or Activities in the same Program can track different things.

Can multiple staff members use Reader Zone?

Yes. Library accounts support unlimited Authorized Users. Owner, Manager, and Authorized User roles can provide access to selected Programs and Groups.

Can we communicate with participants?

Yes. Staff can send or schedule custom emails and push notifications for a Program, Group or Activity, or selected participants. Reader Zone does not currently provide saved notification templates or behavior-triggered automatic reminders.

Can we export and share our results?

Yes. Reader Zone provides Reader, Award, Group, and Program spreadsheet reports. Progress Badges can be downloaded, shared, or embedded on a website.

Is Reader Zone available in Spanish?

The Reader Zone mobile app is fully available in English and Spanish. The Organizer dashboard is not currently described as fully translated.

How does library pricing work?

Reader capacity determines the plan range. Libraries can compare Annual, Monthly, and 90-day Summer options on the Pricing page.

What kind of support do libraries receive?

Current paid plans include priority support by email, chat, or phone. Annual plans also include a live onboarding session. Libraries can request a proposal by emailing help@readerzone.com with an approximate reader count.

Plan your next reading program.

Talk with our team or compare plans and pricing.

Book a DemoSee pricing