Noblesville North students can now ‘snack’ on literature

Noblesville’s North Elementary recently unveiled a book vending machine for students, the first of its kind in Hamilton County and one of only a few throughout the state.

“I constantly had kids who were holding onto school library books and not returning them,” explained Jamie Harris, media specialist at North Elementary. “When I heard about the book vending machine, I knew we needed a way for kids to earn books and keep them forever.”

Harris stocks the machine with titles that have been proven to be high-interest with her students and adds library-quality binding so the books will have a long shelf life at home.

“Teachers are able to pick two students per day who have modeled our school behavior expectations like initiative, respect and excellence,” added Harris. “When a student has earned 10 tickets, they come to see me in the library and are given a gold token that is then used to get a book from the vending machine. I can’t begin to tell you how exciting this is for our students!”

The equipment costs approximately $5,000 and was funded through a creativity grant from the North Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). In past years, North’s PTO has raised almost $25,000 from the signature community food and wine event, Savor Noblesville. Books are replenished regularly using credits from the school’s Scholastic book fairs.

Fifth-grader Graham Bodkin recently earned the opportunity to select a book from the machine. “I’m happy to get a book,” Bodkin said. “I like ones that have a lot of adventure and twisty emotions.”

Why is it important for his school to have a book vending machine? “Two reasons,” answered Bodkin. “For kids to be motivated to do the right thing and to get a book to read if they don’t have one at home.”