Vending

New Orleans hospital rolls out book vending machine

Photo: Generated by AI. Adobe Stock.

January 21, 2026

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New Orleans East Hospital has partnered with The Center for Literacy and Learning to install a book vending machine in the hospital's Emergency Department, giving children a free book after receiving medical care.

The initiative is intended to promote literacy while addressing so-called book deserts by providing young patients with access to books at a time when comfort and distraction can be especially meaningful, according to a Biz New Orleans report.

The book vending machine is located in the hospital's Emergency Department waiting room. After treatment, pediatric patients receive a token that allows them to choose a book to keep. Hospital leadership and community partners emphasized the role of reading in offering both emotional support in stressful moments and lasting educational benefits beyond the hospital visit.

The installation is the first book vending machine placed in a hospital setting in Louisiana and the first of its kind in New Orleans. The initiative reflects a broader trend of collaboration between healthcare organizations and community partners to strengthen family outcomes through accessible literacy programs.