Literacy Council introduces book vending machines

The Christian County Literacy Council will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil a book vending machine at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 12, at the Visitors Center (1730 E. Ninth St.).

Community members are invited to the ceremony to view the vending machine, which will remain in the visitor center. Several elementary school students will attend, along with representatives from Atmos Energy. The utility company donated the vending machine to the Literacy Council.

Francene Gilmer, executive director of the Literacy Council, said the machine’s name will be announced Thursday. Local teachers entered a naming contest and the winner will receive $500 from Atmos to use in their classroom.

“Atmos will have gift bags for the students and the machine will be demonstrated and ready to use,” Gilmer said in an email.

The machine will be filled with books for elementary school students. Buyers can use tokens they receive from their school.

“We asked each school to set their own criteria for obtaining the books,” Gilmer told Hoptown Chronicle.

However, to launch the program, the Reading and Writing Council will use an honor system in September where students will receive credit if they go to the Visitor Center and report that they have recently read three books. The Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.