Vending

Drummonds Elementary launches book vending machine to encourage reading

Photo: Adobe Stock

May 13, 2025

Drummonds Elementary School in Drummonds, Tennessee, has introduced a book vending machine to promote literacy among its students in grades Pre-K through 5. Functioning like a snack machine, it dispenses books in exchange for "golden tickets" earned by students for their reading accomplishments, according to a report by The Covington Leader.

The school's librarian, Stacey Adkison, spearheaded the initiative. The vending machine was obtained through a literacy-focused contest by Reading for Education, though Adkison invested approximately $1,200 to stock it with a variety of books.

This addition works alongside the school's Accelerated Reader program, where students earn points for reading and passing comprehension quizzes, which can then be redeemed for prizes.

The fundraising for the vending machine was facilitated by Reading for Education, an organization providing online fundraising programs for schools.

"Our community supports us through our fundraisers, and I appreciate it so much," Adkison told the news outlet.

Reading for Education's online fundraising model allows students to share links to family bookstores, with the school receiving 40% of the sales. High participation in the program can lead to rewards like the book vending machine. Drummonds Elementary also welcomes ongoing book donations to their library.

The introduction of the vending machine aims to make literacy a more engaging and rewarding experience for students.