Have you considered a book vending machine?
Instead of dispensing drinks and snacks, a book vending machine dispenses mind food.
A novel concept
In 2015, The University of Sydney introduced one of Australia’s first book vending machines in its library spaces. These machines allowed students to “snack” on popular high-rotation titles, making reading as accessible as grabbing a drink.
Book vending machines dispense mind food to students – The University of Sydney.
Two years later, Bannockburn School in Geelong installed a ‘literacy vending machine’. The machine, which cost $20,000, dispensed short stories penned by the students in the P to 12 school.
“It’s a great incentive for the students to write,” Principal Rob Nelson said at the time. “The story machine will hopefully stir the passion in children to write.
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This machine, created by French company Short Édition, was the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Today, hundreds of these short-story dispensers exist across five continents, popping up in train stations, libraries, and other bustling areas. They print stories of varying lengths—one, three, or five minutes—written by local and international authors alike.
What is a book vending machine?
Book vending machines are popular in the United States, where they are increasingly found in public libraries, schools and public spaces. While some vending machines can be set up to accept cash or card payments, more commonly, books are dispensed with tokens that have been awarded to students for good behaviour, birthdays or special occasions.
The experience of selecting a book from a vending machine is novel, interactive and innovative. In our tech-dominated world, these machines combine a love for books with the convenience and familiarity of modern technology.
Customizable to hold books of various sizes, from paperbacks to larger picture books, these machines can serve different purposes. They can function as lending systems—like those at The University of Sydney—or as permanent book dispensing systems for gifts or sales.
Benefits of Book Vending Machines
While not a replacement for a traditional library or a librarian’s expertise, book vending machines offer unique advantages:
Promoting Choice – by stocking vending machines with diverse and inclusive reads, students can make their own choices about what books they read, and in some instances, could allow students to make those decisions in private.
Rewarding achievement and behaviour – Through a token-based system, these machines incentivize positive behaviors, academic success, and participation in school events.
Encouraging a culture of reading – By using books as rewards rather than gift cards or treats, schools emphasize the value of literacy to the entire community.
Out-of-hours access – if located in high-traffic areas, vending machines can make books accessible even when libraries are closed, ensuring no missed opportunities for reading.
Book vending machines are a novelty, but they can also be a tool for promoting literacy, encouraging certain behaviours and fostering independence. By incorporating these machines into schools, educators can open a new chapter of a lifelong love for reading.
