![New Book Vending Machine Turns Heads … and Pages]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1764952784/malvernpreporg/jpiraexr86sxosbsz3cp/IMG_2937.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1764952784/malvernpreporg/jpiraexr86sxosbsz3cp/IMG_2937.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1764952784/malvernpreporg/jpiraexr86sxosbsz3cp/IMG_2937.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1764952784/malvernpreporg/jpiraexr86sxosbsz3cp/IMG_2937.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1764952784/malvernpreporg/jpiraexr86sxosbsz3cp/IMG_2937.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1764952784/malvernpreporg/jpiraexr86sxosbsz3cp/IMG_2937.jpg","width":2200}])
A new Book Vending Machine was unveiled in November in the 3rd-floor hallway of Riley Hall, which has garnered interest from Middle School students as well as some curious Upper Schoolers.
What started as a simple idea of hosting a Book Fair for the Middle School soon evolved into something more fun and exciting for our students. The project, led by Ms. Shay Quigley and Mrs. Lauren Robinson, began last year with the goal of sparking even greater interest in reading among Middle School students.
The vending machine is powered by tokens that students earn to redeem a book from the vending machine. “When a Middle School Faculty member wants to recognize a student exceeding expectations, whether that’s academic-related or doing something exceptionally kind, they will reward students with a token to use at the vending machine. The student uses the machine much like a typical vending machine, selecting the slot that contains the book they want to read. The book is theirs to keep! I have seen a few students at the machine, redeeming their tokens for a book. The joy I saw on their faces as they held their new book, excited to read it, is absolutely priceless,” explains Quigley.
Robinson shares that the feedback to the vending machine has been positive! “Any time we get new books on campus and can help get kids excited about reading, we’re thrilled,” she explains. The only downside to installing the vending machine has been that the students’ demand for books has outpaced the supply … not a bad problem to have!
“As we move forward, we will continue to explore ways to fund more books, allowing us to distribute tokens more generously, enabling students to earn books more frequently. Since we want to encourage a culture of reading, the goal is to get as many books into the students’ hands as possible,” notes Robinson.
A lending library has also been installed near the vending machine, where students can bring books they’ve already read from the machine and lend them to others.
