Vending

Crouse Community Learning Center gets book vending machine to promote literacy

Photo: Adobe Stock

November 13, 2024

Akron Public Schools has installed its first Bookworm Vending Machine at Crouse Community Learning Center, thanks to a grant from the GAR Foundation, according to a Cleveland.com report.

Kindergarten teacher Michelle Mellor secured a $10,000 grant that funded the machine itself and over 500 books.

"Akron Public Schools has a list of preferred reading books for the students," Mellor told the news outlet. "The books are culturally diverse. I selected books with characters who look like the students."

Students earn tokens for good behavior, attendance and punctuality, which they can then redeem for a book of their choice. The machine dispenses the book with a friendly "one book coming up" message. The "cool kids like to read" themed area includes the vending machine and a cozy rocking chair for enjoying new reads.