Female teacher and students point at books inside book vending machine

Murray County Schools is bringing a new and exciting way to encourage reading into its schools with the installation of Book Vending Machines across the district. Chatsworth Elementary, Coker Elementary, Eton Elementary, Bagley Middle, and Gladden Middle Schools have all received the new machines, marking the completion of a districtwide initiative aimed at promoting literacy and fostering a lifelong love of reading.

Unlike traditional vending machines filled with snacks and drinks, these machines are stocked with books that students can take home and keep. The goal is to make reading an exciting and rewarding experience while giving students greater access to books they can enjoy beyond the classroom. By providing opportunities for students to build their own personal libraries, Murray County Schools hopes to encourage reading for enjoyment and help students develop habits that will benefit them throughout their education.

The addition of Book Vending Machines has been a longtime goal for the district, made possible through the efforts of Instructional Technology Director Adriane Ellis and Federal Programs Director Donna Eskut. Their dedication to bringing this initiative to life reflects the district's continued commitment to finding creative ways to support student learning. Special appreciation also goes to Chris Crow and Jamie Dunn from the Murray County Schools Maintenance Department for their work delivering and safely installing the machines at each school.

With all five machines now in place, Murray County Schools is excited to see the impact this initiative will have on students in the years ahead. The new Book Vending Machines are more than just a fun addition to school hallways. They represent an investment in literacy and an opportunity to help students discover the joy of reading, one book at a time.

Crowd of students point to a book vending machineA group of students hold books up in front of book vending machineA group of students and teachers hold books up in front of book vending machineA girl holds a Star Wars book up and smilesA male and female student unwrap a book vending machine