Springfield Elementary School Palisades Book Vending Machine — Books purchased for the new vending machine were selected by Springfield Elementary School staff.

There’s a cool new way for students to get their hands on books at Springfield Elementary School, and it doesn’t even require going to the library.

The school–which is located in the Palisades School District–now has a book vending machine, which was recently donated by the Springfield Elementary Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA).

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the $6,000 vending machine was held Friday at the school, with Superintendent Dr. Bridget O’Connell on hand to choose the first title from among about 20 age-appropriate books that are available for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The goal is for each student to have the opportunity to receive a book from it each year.

Although the first book she choose got stuck inside the machine, and the second got hung up on the stuck book, the third time was the charm and O’Connell enthusiastically held up the book she’d selected: “Let’s Go For a Drive!” by Mo Willems.

SEPTA President Katrina Laubach explained that the vending machine is designed to foster a love of reading by giving students a fun way to engage with titles they may not otherwise have had access to.

Teachers from each grade level are involved in selecting the books that are in the machine, and Laubach said enough inventory is on hand to keep it stocked for a year.

Beginning Sept. 29, staff will hand out tickets to students who have demonstrated the Springfield Elementary School virtues, which are also emblazoned on the vending machine: Respectfulness, Responsibility and Kindness.

Laubach said this recognition system correlates with the school’s Pawball rewards program for students, which is a positive behavioral motivational tool.

Springfield Elementary School Principal Scott Davis, who oversaw the ribbon-cutting ceremony, predicted that the new vending machine will help students “find new and exciting ways” to enjoy reading.

Although attendance at the ceremony was restricted because it was held in the school’s lobby area, the ribbon-cutting was streamed live for families at home and students, who were gathered together for the first school-wide assembly of the year. Students were later recognized at the assembly for their participation in Springfield Elementary’s summer reading program.

Along with Davis, O’Connell and Laubach, the SEPTA board, school library staff and book vending machine committee members and school board director Dr. Karen Beerer were on hand for the ribbon-cutting.