Turning Pages with Tokens: Book Vending Machine Inspires Love of Literacy at STEAM at Dr. King

“One book, coming right up!”
 
The vending machine in the STEAM at Dr. King Foyer spoke as it dropped a book into the slot.
 
“I’ve always wanted one!” a student exclaimed with delight as he pulled out a National Geographic Kids book called ‘Superstars of the Seas’ and hugged it to his chest.
 
The book vending machine – an innovative concept – was donated to the school last year by Park Central Church. Now, Dr. King Library Media Specialist Rebecca Shaffer Mannion notifies the church when the selection is getting low and is provided with funds to hand-pick new books to stock the machine.
 
“It’s been such a great thing,” Ms. Shaffer Mannion shared. “We have kids, family members, and even community members come in and ask if they can use their own money to purchase the books!”
 
The machine isn’t powered by money, though – students must have a special gold token in order to make a selection. Coins can be earned by demonstrating good behavior during students’ library time and by demonstrating good PAX behavior schoolwide. It’s an incentive that Ms. Shaffer Mannion says benefits the school culture as well as students’ skill development.
 
“Studies show that if kids read every day, they’ll do better in school,” she explained. “Some kids are put off by chapter books, and they think that’s all there is. I’m big on stressing the different kinds of reading out there – there are magazines, comic books… there are so many options. Reading ultimately helps them find and develop their interests. I try to instill in them that any kind of reading is good… any kind of reading helps build their reading muscles!”
 
#SCSDGivesThanks for Park Central Church – including Pastor Sarah McTyre and Briana Vought – for their generosity in making this incentive available to our students at Dr. King!