Vending

Columbus library celebrates 150th birthday with novel vending machine

Image provided by Columbus Metropolitan Library.

June 12, 2023

The Columbus Metropolitan Library will celebrate its 150th birthday by hosting a massive outdoor vending machine that dispenses small containers of local artwork for 50 cents apiece, according to a 614now.com report.

The 8-foot tall, rectangular machine, known as Egg Prize, holds hundreds of capsules known as Chipies for 50 cents apiece. The capsules can be seen through circular windows on the sides of the machine. The bulk vending machine dispenses the capsules at random. Prizes include pins, magnets and stickers featuring local artwork.

The Friends of the Library invited 24 Columbus-based artists to create works commemorating the 150th birthday by showcasing public libraries and their community impact.

The machine travels to different cities for special events, and will be located east of the intersection of West Town Street and North High Street in Columbus until early September.

The exterior of the machine has been painted with images honoring the library's 150th birthday.