ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — At Sand Hill-Venable Elementary School, every student gets a special birthday gift: a book. But that’s just the beginning of a literacy initiative that’s getting students excited about reading.
The school has introduced a book vending machine, where students earn tokens to select books of their choice. They receive one token on their birthday and can earn additional tokens by achieving academic and positive behavior goals.
“Our goal is for every student to get a book for their birthday,” principal Angela Gwyn said Friday. “And then we have two additional books that are given: one based around an academic goal and another that’s tied to Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).”
The Inchy the Bookworm vending machine is the star of the show. The machine is stocked with titles, ranging from “Goosebumps” to “Pig the Pug,” ensuring there’s something for everyone. The school’s media specialist curates the selection and manages the machine, with the help of a student assistant.
“The students’ faces light up when they get to use the machine,” Gwyn said.
Some even window shop daily, waiting for their turn to pick a book.
Paul and Sue Romesburg donated 10 fully-stocked book vending machines to Buncombe County Schools last year, with another 10 planned for this year.
“I saw it somewhere and thought, ‘That’s brilliant,'” Paul Romesburg said while visiting the school Friday.
“It gives the vending machines new life and puts books in the hands of kids,” Sue Romesburg said. “Students know they have to read to learn their subjects, but we’d also like them to read for fun, to read just for the adventure of it.”
For many students, the vending machine experience is transformative. With nearly 25 percent of the student body learning English as a second language, graphic novels and other visually engaging books have become essential tools in language acquisition and literacy development.
“Reading levels the playing field,” Paul Romsberg said. “We were blessed to learn to read early, and we still read probably a book a week. Our hope is that this program promotes reading for fun and adventure, giving students the chance to explore worlds they might not otherwise experience.”
The vending machine adds an element of wonder. Unlike a typical snack machine, it speaks when buttons are pressed, often surprising curious parents who push them during school events. Students, however, are experts. They insert their token, punch in their book’s number and watch as their chosen story drops into their hands.
Each book includes a special plate inscribed with the student’s name and the reason they earned it, making it a personal keepsake.
“We want students to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment,” Gwyn said. “Whether it’s earning a book through a goal or simply celebrating their birthday, the message is clear: reading is valuable, rewarding and fun.”
As Sand Hill-Venable Jets soar toward their end-of-year celebration, fueled by “Jet Pride” and a shared love of reading, the book vending machine stands as a beacon of imagination and opportunity — one token at a time.
