BUFFALO, N.Y. — Normally, snacks and soda are things you'll find in a customary vending machine... but not the vending machine inside Buffalo Public School 61. Inside this Pre-K through 4th grade school, there is an Inchy The Bookworm vending machine, a vending machine for books.
School 61 is the first school in the Greater Buffalo Area to have a vending machine of its type installed and it's been in use since November 27th, 2018. Over the course of the school year Principal, Parette Walker, and Assistant Principal, Dr. Unseld Robinson, say the vending machine has made students excited to read outside of school.
“We received some positive phone calls from parents about how they’re reading and engaging with their kids," Robinson said. “[The] books that are designed to help kids to make changes to their character.”
The book vending machines deposit a book each time a golden "Inchy The Bookworm" coin is inserted. Coins are awarded to students who are members of the Principal's Reading Club and also to those who demonstrate good character traits at School 61.
The vending machines feature books by local authors and are tailored to connect with all types of students, they are supplied by both Scholastic and various local partnerships.
The book vending machines are manufactured by Global Vending Group located in Amherst and are shipped to districts across the United States. The machines retail around $3,000.
The next district that looks to bring the book vending machines into their schools is Orchard park.
