A new book vending machine is generating excitement among students, staff and parents alike at
Holly Springs Elementary School.
More than 200 Holly Springs students got to try out the new book dispensing machine recently as a reward for logging at least 750 minutes in Beanstack, the Douglas County School System’s new digital reading platform.
“The students were so excited to receive their free book today,” Holly Springs first grade teacher Angela Johns said. “It was the talk of the entire school seeing kids receive their reward.”
Holly Springs media specialist Kerry Harbin said the school purchased the machine and filled it with books using proceeds from last year’s DaySpring 5K, hosted each year by Central Baptist Church. This year’s DaySpring race is November 16 and will benefit Factory Shoals Elementary School.
Harbin said she saw other schools around the district getting book vending machines and wanted one for her school.
The machine works like a regular vending machine, Harbin said, with students inserting one token, punching in the number for the book they want, and watching as it dispenses the book “just like a soda or snack.”
“I told the kids don't eat it or drink it, read it!” Harbin kidded.
She said excitement about the customized machine continued last week during the school’s Spooky Literacy Night, when students who completed three activities on the choice board received a token.
“Parents loved the machine and how it fosters a love of learning and reading in their children,” Harbin said. “They were living vicariously through their children as they chose a book, and it was dispensed from the machine.”
Moving forward, Harbin said Holly Springs students can earn tokens for reading and other school accomplishments.