Just like buying a soda from a traditional vending machine, in these new versions the book falls out of the rings and waits at the bottom of the machine to be taken out. The librarian at Provident Heights, Hilda Castillo-Abait, manages her school’s book machine. She said the book vending machine at her school was provided by Atmos Energy.
“We received it through our partners, we have community partners which um the company’s Atmos energy and they’re great partners. They always help with any type of event we have with our families and so their whole idea is about giving access to books to all of our students,” Castillo-Abait said.
Making books accessible is the goal and so far, it’s working. Students can earn a token to use in this new program. At Provident Heights, they have three ways to earn a token: meeting their reading goal, receiving a positive behavior referral, or having perfect attendance. Having these options allows all students a chance to have access to books.
But why add a vending machine when students are already allowed to check out books in the library? These books, students can buy forever.
“When we did our first round it was, um, 30 students and so they got to go and they put the token in, and then whichever book they want they chose falls out,” Castillo-Abait said.
These book vending machines are not just at Provident Heights Elementary School. Waco I.S.D. is working to have them at more campuses this spring.