Vending

Pennsylvania jail offers books for young visitors

Photo: Generated by AI. Adobe Stock.

February 4, 2026

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Children visiting incarcerated loved ones at the Berks County Jail in Pennsylvania now have access to a book vending machine designed to make visits more welcoming and engaging, according to a Reading Eagle report.

Installed through a partnership between the Berks County Public Library System and jail officials, the machine dispenses free books to visiting children using tokens provided upon arrival. The books can be read during visits and taken home afterward, offering a positive activity during what can be a stressful experience.

Library system administrators said the initiative aims to strengthen family bonds through reading, a core focus of many library programs. By providing books during jail visits, officials hope to create moments of connection between children and their loved ones while encouraging literacy and imagination. The vending machine can hold more than 230 titles across a wide range of reading levels, with the jail funding the machine and initial inventory and the library continuing to replenish selections.

Jail officials emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment for children, noting that visits can be emotionally challenging. The book vending machine gives children a sense of choice and normalcy, turning visits into opportunities for learning and enjoyment. The project is part of broader collaboration efforts between the jail and library system, which also include monthly book clubs and donations of library books to the jail's collection.