Valley View unveils first book vending machine in North Idaho
(Photo by Victor Corral Martinez) Patti Solt, Rebekah Johnson and Julie Colsen unveiling the book vending machine
Principal Harmon Newhouse with Valley View students thanking Mountain West Bank and Colsen for making a vision a reality.
(photo by Victor Corral Martinez) 5th grade students getting the opportunity to get a book before they graduate.
(Photo by Victor Corral Martinez) Students deciding which book they want
BONNERS FERRY — Valley View elementary school unveiled its book vending machine on Tuesday, June 8, the first in North Idaho.
The idea started in September, and the idea began taking off; when Principal Harmon Newhouse said he would love to have one on campus, Julie Colson, the school librarian, made plans to make it happen.
“Colsen would meet with me probably every week looking at different images,” Newhouse said.
According to Newhouse, the book vending machine uses reading books as a reward for students if they do something outstanding in school and allow them to pick their book.
“Just reading with kids goes so far,” Newhouse said, “If we can get kids to read, it does so much for their learning and their minds.”
This vending machine will hold up to 200 books and will be available for all students to use. The most significant benefit for students is no money is required to use the machine — but it accepts a gold token.
Students will have opportunities to earn the gold tokens and to choose the book they want. Students may earn the tokens with positive behaviors such as kindness, respect and being helpful.
Valley View Elementary thanks Mountain West Bank’s branch manager Patti Solt and the community reinvestment team for making this dream come true.
“Giving children the chance to choose their very own ‘forever’ book, and earn that book through positive behavior, helps us build excitement for reading! When children are excited about books, only good things can happen!” Newhouse said.
According to Solt, Colsen presented the book vending machine concept to Mountain West Bank and community outreach coordinator Rebekah Johnson.
“We just ran with it, it’s a huge thing to be there for our community and help reinvest in our kids,” Solt said, stating this was an excellent opportunity for the bank to help Bonners Ferry.
Solt states she likes the merit program incentive for receiving a token to get a book, wishing she had a similar vending machine when she was in school.
According to Solt, Newhouse and Colsen, no other schools outside of Boise have a book vending machine in Idaho.
