LOUISVILLE, Ky. — You might have heard of a book nook in someone's home, but what about at school?
Well that's what Jefferson County Public Schools is implementing. Four elementary schools are installing vending machines and they'll be called "The Book Nook."
The schools are Atkinson, Chancey, Engelhard and Hazelwood Elementary Schools according to JCPS officials.
The machines cost about $5,000 each and were purchased by an anonymous donor. They don't take cash; instead, students can "buy" books using golden tokens they earn through things like good grades, attendance, acts of kindness, birthdays and accomplishments.
"Our goal is to get it in every school in the district and we're working with community partners currently to make sure that can happen," Lynn Reynolds, the director of Library Media Services at JCPS, said. "It is not a large cost if I can just that in here right now, it's not a big deal, it's like $5,000 for the machine and to maintain the books for a year. It's like $3,000 so $8,000 for not having an illiterate nation; to me [this] is pennies."
Library Media Services will restock the machines one time, then the schools will be responsible for purchasing books for the machine.
“These new vending machines will promote literacy, encourage reading habits, and foster accessibility, diversity, and inclusion among our students,” Reynolds said. “With just the touch of a button, students can embark on literary adventures, discovering new worlds, perspectives, and ideas.”
JCPS officials said the vending machines would be stocked with a "diverse selection" of books suitable for the students.
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