Book Vending Machine Provides Rewards for Students in Buffalo NY

Have you ever heard of a book vending machine? About a year and a half ago President and CEO Jason Blumberg had a fruitful conversation with the Assistant Principal at Arthur O. Eve School of Distinction #61, Dr. Unseld Robinson. Dr. Robinson’s vision sought a solution to how he could help the community bring books and families together in the age of technology and mobile devices.

What transpired this week was the ribbon cutting of a book vending machine, customized by Global Vending Group, based out of Buffalo NY. Just like choosing your favorite snack or soda, students pondered which of their favorite books they want to take home with them using specialized golden coins that are programmed to trigger the book vending machine’s response.

Students can be rewarded with these magical gold coins by however a school wishes, but Buffalo School 61 Principal Parette Walker says each student will have a chance to receive a book, using a monthly rotation of all students.

Dr. Robinson comes to Buffalo NY from Long Island, and saw the idea for a book vending machine as an opportunity to help improve literacy and pronunciation, as well as provide students with an opportunity to feel good about reading.

"I said that I need to do something special. I need to make sure that it's going to be applicable to the needs of the children here in Buffalo, New York," 

Who would have thought that a special coin operated vending machine could bring so much joy and value to a local community? There are many things you can do with a vending machine, that you may not even think about. We’ve seen some pretty cooky things be vended all over the world, but seeing a book vending machine provide students and families of the community with such a feel good story really makes us realize what we can do.

We want to encourage local communities of WNY, as well as anywhere, to consider what something like a book vending machine, or vending machine with special tokens can do for your school’s morale. In addition to providing students with an incentive, as well as improving reading at home, it can provide a reason to fundraise for your school, and improve unity and bring together the community. That’s a big part of why we here at Global Vending took part in this ribbon cutting, we want to provide the WNY community with solutions and vending options that change the way vending machines are perceived. Hephing to provide books for students and families of WNY with a book vending machine is just one way to do that.

If you’d like to hear more about our book vending machine, or you think a book vending machine could be an amazing addition to your school or community center, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-800-592-4220.