Using READsquared | Jackson/Hinds Library System

READsquared is an online platform for reading programs. JHLS will use this platform for the annual Summer Reading Program and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.

Need help learning how to use READsquared? Select an option below for tips.

To enlarge a screenshot, click on the image.

Website Registration

To register from a computer, go to the READsquared home page for JHLS at jhlibrary.readsquared.com.

Scroll down and look for the words Register Now. Click there to access the online registration form.

For the online form and paper form this year, a person can do an individual registration regardless of age, a parent can register with additional children, or a group can register (examples would be a daycare center or youth group).

Select an age from the dropdown box. For adults, select 18 Years Old or 19+ Years Old. The system will automatically assign the correct category.

Notice the Go Back button on each page, so if you need to correct something, you can click on it to go to the previous page.

Next, enter the first name, last name, phone number (optional), email address (optional), the library branch, a username and a password. The password must be at least seven characters in length and contain one alpha and one numeric character.

For a patron also registering children, after clicking on Myself and Children and filling out their own details, they can in turn add children.

The child’s program category will automatically be selected. For example, a three-year-old will be assigned to the preschool category. The last name is filled in automatically, but this can be edited.

Entering a username and password is optional per child in case the child is too young to log into READsquared on their own.

For the preschool, child and teen categories, there’s an option to receive book recommendations as well if you wish. This applies to individual and family registrations. If an email address is included with registration, emails will be sent, and this feature can be disabled in your account at any time.

After entering the child’s information, the parent can select the Continue button to add an additional child or Done Adding Children when finished.

The option to add additional children is also available in the account settings after registration, so you can register first and then go back to add children.

App Registration

The READsquared app is available on the App Store and Google Play.

If a patron registers using the READsquared app, they must enter Jackson Hinds Library System, MS in the library field. Attempting to enter a specific library will give them an error message. They will have the option to choose a library in the registration form.

The registration experience will be similar to registering on the website after this point.

READsquared Interface

If registration is successful, the registrant will be immediately logged into READsquared. Special messages will appear first as a popup if enabled.

Click on the X to temporarily hide the popup or Dismiss to permanently hide it.

On the home page, features including logging books, completing missions, playing games, viewing earned badges, reading list suggestions and book reviews can be viewed here.

Avatar options are based on the age category. The participant can customize their profile with an avatar by clicking on the silhouette and pencil icon to the left of the default avatar.

The avatar options will depend on the age group.

You must click on Save Changes to save your avatar.

My Wish List is an optional area to list books that you would like to read.

To see what books are the most popular among other participants, explore the Most Popular Books section. The participant can either choose Find it at the Library to be taken to the online catalog or Add book to my wish list.

For family accounts, you can view the family members listed or add a child account.

Adding a child account to an existing parent account: You can link to your parent account an existing account you or your child has already created by clicking on Link Existing Account. You will need the username and password for the child account. Or, you can create a brand new account for your child by clicking on Add Child Account.

A participant can also enable text messaging to receive notifications about their account.

This option can be disabled later.

If a participant has a question or suggestion, they can click on the question icon at the bottom right and complete the form to send a message.

If someone sends a message and does not have an email address associated with their account, they will need to check their inbox in READsquared.

Logging Books and Reviews

Logging books can be done at the center of the home page by clicking on Log Reading or the navigation bar by clicking on Logging.

You will be prompted on the type of book you wish to log. Click on the appropriate option. (Options will vary by age group.)

Next, enter the book name and author, You will also be given the option to add a book review. Book reviews are moderated and published after approval.

READsquared interface

For family accounts, select the family member that it applies to. If the category isn’t available for the family member’s account, it will be greyed out.

Click Submit to save your information. The number of points earned will appear.

READsquared interface

If the earned points result in earning a badge or certificate, the participant will be notified as well.

You have the option on entering book reviews separately if you wish. Points are not earned for entering reviews.

Earning Points and Awards

Points by age group are as follows for logging books read:

Preschool:

50 points per picture book

Children:

20 points per picture book
40 points per book with words
40 points per audiobook
40 points per e-book

Teen:

10 points per picture book
40 points per book with words
40 points per audiobook
40 points per e-book

Adult:

10 points per picture book
40 points per book with words
40 points per audiobook
40 points per e-book

The maximum points that can be logged per day is 1,000 points. When the maximum is reached for the day, the participant must wait until the next day to log books again.

Missions: Most missions are 10 points each and go toward the total points earned.

For the JHLS virtual story times in the children’s category, they are two points each.
Missions may be giving the correct answer to a question, fill in the blank, checking a box or typing a summary in a text field to complete the activity.

For participants with reading logs, their information must be manually entered into READsquared. They can be looked up by their first name, last name, username, email address or phone number.

Digital awards are issued as follows per category:

200 points – Level 1 Badge
400 points – Level 2 Badge
600 points – Level 3 Badge
800 points – Level 4 Badge
1000 points – Certificate

Here’s an example of a badge:

The certificate can be printed from READsquared once it is automatically generated as an image file.

If you are having trouble printing your certificate, ask a JHLS staff member for assistance.

Games and Bingo

Games vary by age group and can be anything from puzzles, interactive challenges or special story times.

Upon registration, two games are unlocked. With every 100 points earned from logging books or completing missions, two more games are unlocked.

There are 10 levels of games to unlock with two games per level. Including the games given at registration, the patron can earn up to 22 games to play.

Points are not earned for playing games. They are rewards for logging books and completing missions.

The game board:

As games are unlocked due to earning points with reading logs or missions, your progress for unlocking games can be viewed on the game board. For every two additional games unlocked (100 points), you earn a piece on the game board.

From the home page, an interactive version of the game board can be viewed by clicking on Dashboard and then clicking on the map icon. Hover over a section to see what games you have earned and can play, and what games are left to earn.

Playing bingo:

Each age category has a bingo board. Click on the Bingo button on the home page to access it. The bingo board is also printable, and you can click on the printer icon to print a hard copy.

To mark off an activity on the board as complete, click on an activity and respond to the question to check it off.

Earn points for each completed cell.

Events

In READsquared, look for an Events icon that looks like a calendar. Click on it to see the main calendar.

By default, the month view is visible with four programs showing. You can change the view to see programs by week or day, and you can click on “+ more” to see more events for a particular day.

In future years when in-person programs are available, you can filter by library branch to see programs for that branch only by clicking on the dropdown box at the top.

To view a program, start by clicking on its title.

The Where field is blank for virtual programs. To see the video, click on See Full Details. You will get a program description and the embedded YouTube video to play.

At the bottom, you may print event details, add it to a calendar such as iCal or Outlook, or share via Facebook, Twitter or email. You can also go back to the main calendar by clicking on See All Events.

For those who are not using READsquared, virtual programs are also available on our website’s event calendar. Shortcut: https://jhlibrary.org/2020srpevents. Click on an event title to see the embedded YouTube video.

Printing Certificates

Participants can choose to print their certificates from READsquared or save them as JPG files. If you want to print and are having trouble or don’t have a printer, you can ask a JHLS staff member to assist you with printing one after verifying that you earned a certificate in READsquared.

1. Printing a certificate from READsquared

A participant who earns at least 1,000 points will receive a certificate badge, but they will also receive a printable certificate with their name on it and the completion date. It will be automatically generated in their profile and is a printable JPG.

From the home page in READsquared, click on the Certificate button.

The certificate will then appear on the right side of the screen.

Next, click on the Print Certificate button.

This will open up the print dialog. Depending on your computer, the certificate may be slightly taller than one sheet of paper, so you can reduce the size for fitting onto one page.

2. Saving a certificate as a JPG

When you right click on the image and choose Save Image As…, the default file name is “download” without a file extension. Add JPG after it and then save.

If you would prefer to register and log books with a paper form, click below for printable forms or visit your library branch for assistance.

Registration Form

Reading Log Form