• Noonan Elementary in Alice ISD has purchased a book vending machine for campus.
• The book vending machine was purchased with the proceeds from the campus book fairs.
• Students receive tokens with which they can purchase books of their choice.

Food for thought for the Alice Independent School District. Noonan Elementary School has purchased a vending machine, but it does not dispense typical snacks.

This year, the librarian at Noonan Elementary wanted to create a new incentive to get more students reading, and the idea led her to a vending machine.

“Everyone was so excited,” said Pamela Gonzales, librarian at Noonan Elementary.

She talked about the newest book vending machine. She said they received the book vending machine on Wednesday and it quickly attracted attention.

A second-grader said the lights caught her attention.

“I like it because I can test them and read them. And I can keep them and read them all every day,” said Cianna Zamora, a second-grader at Noonan Elementary.

One of her favorite books is “Pete The Cat,” which is in the vending machine.

“(For them, reading is) fun and you can look at the pictures,” Zamora said.

Another student who is interested in the district’s only book vending machine is fifth-grader Lorenzo Shearin. He never stops reading chapter books. He said he likes the adventures he experiences while reading.

“It looks pretty cool. I like the way you get rewarded for good deeds. I like the lights on it. And I’m really grateful to the school for giving it to us,” Shearin said.

The fifth-grader can’t wait to see his classmates work toward the positive incentives on campus.

“First of all, it is very important to read and I also think that it will create a desire in many children to do good just to get their favorite book,” said Shearin.

The campus librarian said the $6,000 machine is worth the price. Gonzales said the unique machine was an idea presented to her by another librarian. The machine was purchased with funds the campus received at book fairs.

“I think it’s really great that we have something like this as a reward to give students a positive relationship with reading. It’s a great way to encourage them to open a book and find out what it’s about,” Gonzales said.

Students don’t need cash for this brain food machine. They receive special tokens for use through incentives on campus. One token, one book, another way to promote literacy skills.

Librarian Pamela Gonzalez said reading is the foundation for a better future for children.

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