Vending

Virginia school district installs free book vending machines

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August 3, 2026

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Henry County Public Schools in Virginia has installed free book vending machines at its central office and all nine elementary schools as part of a state-funded literacy initiative, according to a WDBJ News report. Students can earn tokens through good attendance and citizenship, then use them to select books to keep.

Superintendent Amy Blake-Lewis said the program is intended to make reading more accessible and enjoyable while encouraging lifelong learning. Parents also said the machines could support family reading habits and give children another incentive to read at home. The district's first day of school is Aug. 11.