For a handful of schools in Educational Service District (ESD) 112, book vending machines are feeding hungry minds. Local schools like Eisenhower Elementary, Hockinson Heights Elementary, and St. Helens Elementary have installed book vending machines as a creative approach to encourage early literacy. Thanks to local grants and community fundraising, book vending machines are an innovative way for students to access new reading materials.
At Eisenhower Elementary in Vancouver Public Schools and St. Helens Elementary in the Longview School District, students earn tokens to select a book of their choice from the vending machine for positive behavior, academic effort, and safety.
“This token system not only encourages students to set and reach meaningful goals, but it also puts books in their hands to take home, helping to build a love for reading and increase access to literature outside of school,” said St. Helens Elementary School Principal Stephanie Teel.
“The book vending machine supports our school-wide goal of helping every student reach reading proficiency by grade 3 and to maintain reading proficiency throughout their time at HHES,” said Meredith Gannon, principal at Hockinson Heights Elementary School. Students at Hockinson Heights Elementary School may select one free book from the vending machine on their birthday, or in June for students with summer birthdays.
Cody, student at Hockinson Heights Elementary School, uses the new book vending machine at school
The schools creatively leveraged grant and fundraising dollars to purchase books and the vending machines. The vending machine at Eisenhower Elementary was purchased using a Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools grant, with support from the Eisenhower PTA. At Hockinson Heights Elementary, the vending machine was purchased using Parents Working Together (PWT) dollars fundraised during a community Fun Run event. Community donations also help stock the vending machine at St. Helens Elementary School.
The book vending machines supplement other literacy initiatives like reading challenges, book fairs, author visits, and library time at schools across the region. Book vending machines make book ownership accessible, creating excitement around reading and caring for books that students can keep.
Beyond ESD 112, schools across Washington state are also adopting this approach. Mountain View Elementary in Shelton School District, Captain Gray Elementary and Virgie Robinson Elementary in Pasco School District, Crescent Harbor Elementary in Oak Harbor School District, and Jefferson Elementary in Everett School District have recently installed book vending machines.
Early literacy is a priority for schools in ESD 112 and beyond. With the installation of book vending machines and other creative initiatives, schools across Southwest Washington are making significant strides in sparking students’ interest in reading and providing easy access to books, fostering a sense of hope and optimism for the future of literacy in our communities.
