Johnson City Library Launches Reading Challenge Tied to Big South Basketball

The Mountain South Madness Reading Challenge runs through February 28 and offers prizes and tickets to the championship games.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Johnson City Public Library has partnered with Visit Johnson City to launch the Mountain South Madness Reading Challenge, an initiative to encourage reading and community engagement among local youth ages 5-10. The challenge runs through February 28 and offers participants the chance to earn milestone badges, prizes, and free tickets to the 2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Basketball Championships taking place in March at the Freedom Hall Civic Center.

Why it matters

The reading challenge aims to promote literacy and strengthen connections between the library, local schools, and the wider Johnson City community by providing an incentive for kids to read while also generating interest and excitement around the upcoming Big South basketball tournament.

The details

Participants in the Mountain South Madness Reading Challenge can register through the Beanstack platform at jcpltn.beanstack.org/reader365. The challenge is open to children ages 5-10 and runs through February 28. Readers who meet certain milestones will earn badges, prizes, and free tickets to the 2026 Big South Basketball Championships scheduled for March 4-8 at the Freedom Hall Civic Center.

  • The Mountain South Madness Reading Challenge is active through February 28, 2026.
  • The 2026 Big South Basketball Championships will take place March 4-8, 2026 at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City.

The players

Johnson City Public Library

The public library system serving Johnson City, Tennessee, which is partnering with Visit Johnson City on the Mountain South Madness Reading Challenge.

Visit Johnson City

The tourism organization promoting Johnson City, Tennessee, which is collaborating with the Johnson City Public Library on the reading challenge.

2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Basketball Championships

The annual postseason basketball tournament for the Big South Conference, which is providing free tickets as prizes for the reading challenge.

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What they’re saying

“We're thrilled to partner with the Big South Championships on a program that celebrates both literacy and community. This challenge gives kids a tangible reward for reading while strengthening connections between the library, local schools, and the wider community.”

— Suzy Bomgardner, Assistant Director of Children's Services, Johnson City Public Library (Visit Johnson City press release)

What’s next

The Johnson City Public Library will award prizes and free tickets to the 2026 Big South Basketball Championships to participants who meet the reading challenge milestones by the February 28 deadline.

The takeaway

The Mountain South Madness Reading Challenge demonstrates how local institutions can collaborate to promote literacy, community engagement, and excitement around major sporting events. By incentivizing reading with prizes and event tickets, the library and Visit Johnson City are encouraging young readers to develop a lifelong love of books while also building anticipation for the upcoming Big South basketball tournament.