Vending

Kansas City book vending machines prove popular at elementary schools

Photo: Adobe Stock

June 27, 2024

Three literacy programs in Kansas City have teamed up to install book vending machines at local schools in the city. The nonprofits include Lead to Read KC, Turn the Page KC and Literacy KC, according to a Kansas City Mag report.

Each book vending machine can hold approximately 250 books, or about 20 copies of 12 to 15 different titles. The program began last year at Turner Sixth Grade Academy in Kansas City, Kansas and has now expanded to Trailwoods Elementary and Kansas City International Academy, both in Kansas City, Missouri.

"It's a shiny machine that certainly gets everyone's attention," Angela Pritchett, Lead to Read KC's communications manager told the magazine.

"We distribute 2,700 books a month through our program Reading Is Everywhere, which we have been doing since 2011. A total of 53,000 books have been put in baskets every month in 65 locations where children are often waiting, such as in health care offices, barber shops, restaurants, social services agencies and salons."

Pritchett expressed enthusiasm for the programs' expanded access with the book vending machines.