Barnard Elementary Cuts Ribbon for TSD's First Book Vending Machine

Today Barnard Elementary School held a special ribbon cutting to celebrate the installation of the District’s first Book Vending Machine during the live broadcast of the Barnard News. Much like a traditional vending machine that dispenses snacks or beverages, the Book vending machine dispenses, well, books.

A few years ago Barnard’s reading specialists brought this idea up as a potential addition to the school. This year the school’s PTO was looking for some new capital projects to invest in the school long term and thought this would make a great addition to encourage literacy and love of reading within the school. This is the first of its kind in the entire Troy School District.

Said PTO President Brian Smiatacz: “We were thrilled to finally receive the machine this month and be able to install and dedicate it appropriately during March is Reading Month.” How does it work? The PTO purchased 500 books to stock the machine. On students’ birthdays (or half birthday if it lands during the summer months) they will get to visit Principal Morey to receive a special Barnard Book Coin. They will then take the coin to the machine and pick out a book of their choice. There are reading-level books for all grade levels within the machine.

Even though the machine arrived too late in this school year to celebrate everyone’s birthday, all kids still will get to use the machine. The PTO went ahead and funded the purchase of 500 books that will be used at some point before school is out, each student will get a coin and will have the opportunity to use it in the machine for a book of their choice.

Again, these purchases are only possible because of how generous the Barnard community is. Because of the parent/teacher partnership, students will be able to enjoy things that they would otherwise never get to experience.

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Photos courtesy of Troy Schools:

1 & 2 – Book Vending Machine

3 – 6 – principal Melanie Morey with students

7 – Principal Morey with Reading Specialists Autumn Winiarski and Stacy Beloungea

8 – PTO President Brian Smiatacz with Autumn Winiarski