Taylorville Primary School introduces new book vending machine

Students at Taylorville Primary School crowded around a new vending machine Wednesday morning, but this machine is different than other vending machines, which typically dispense snacks or drinks. The new machine dispenses books.

Taylorville Primary has students in pre-kindergarten through second grade and unveiled the machine in the school library by cutting a golden ribbon that was wrapped around the machine.

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Principal Laurie Presley said the machine is a way to reward students and to promote reading.

"We used some of our school money to purchase this as an incentive and another way to celebrate our children. We will give them a golden coin on their birthday, but we will also be encouraging reading by giving them a book buck when they get a positive office referral for leadership, character, academic achievements and improvements. After they get so many book bucks, they can exchange it for a golden coin," Presley said.

The students can get the golden coin for 10 book bucks and the book bucks can be issued by any teacher when a child meets one of the achievement goals.

Each child will also receive a gold coin on his or her birthday. The gold coin allows the student to buy one book and the book will then belong to the student.

The school used some of their allocated funds and library funds to purchase the vending machine and fill it with books.

Community support in the form of donations of books or money to buy books are welcomed. Presley said donations, either financial or physical, can be sent to the Taylorville Primary School office.

Librarian Leah Presley said, "I tried to choose books that they get excited about in the library and books that they enjoy reading. These are brand-new books and they are for the students to keep."

The staff at the school hopes students will begin building their personal libraries at home, but keeping the machine full will require money.

The school will use budgeted funds to help with that but also needs the community's support.

The school has nearly 600 children and each child will get a book on his or her birthday in addition to those books a students earns through accomplishment.

There will be a constant need for new books, the principal said.

"We will be looking for grants to fill it and we will be using our allocation money to fill it and also donations." Laurie Presley said.

Reach Gary Cosby Jr. at gary.cosby@tuscaloosanews.com.