Book vending machine ‘breaking down barriers’ launched at school
Students at Linlithgow Academy have acquired a rather ‘novel’ appliance. Former poet laureate Jackie Kay visited the West Lothian secondary school to officially launch a ‘book vending machine’, donated by Penguin Books.
More than 800 schools across the UK put in bids for the machine, which will stock more than 1000 books. In addition to a number of novels written by Kay, students will also have access to Penguin’s ‘Lit in Colour’ series, which aims to highlight works of literature written by authors of colour. Free for students to use, teachers will manage the device using a token system.
According to research carried out by racial equality charity The Runnymede Trust in 2021, less than one percent of students at GCSE level had studied works penned by authors of colour. ‘Lit in Colour’ aims to break down these barriers, giving schools the necessary resources to platform a diverse range of authors.
Kay, who also participated in a Q&A about her experiences as an author of colour, said: “Having a vending machine for books is really exciting. I think it’s a novel idea and a wonderful way to introduce people to books they might not have come across otherwise. “Reading forms such an important part of our lives. We remember the books that have made a big impact on us and the books that we come across in an unusual way.”
Dr Zaahida Nabagereka, Senior Social Impact Manager and Head of Lit in Colour at Penguin, added: “The vending machine is part of Penguin’s ongoing Lit in Colour campaign, which aims to make the teaching and learning of English literature in UK schools more inclusive of writers of colour.
“As books are like windows and mirrors, it’s vital that all children have access to a diverse range of stories and authors that reflect our wonderfully diverse modern British society.”
The vending machine has been praised by Linlithgow students, with one remarking: “It is really inspiring seeing literature from a woman of colour in my school. As a black girl in a predominantly white area myself I relate to a lot of struggles Jackie has gone through so I find it comforting.”
Another added: “I really enjoyed Jackie’s talk, and I feel very inspired. I think the book vending machine is a great idea to encourage students to read more diverse books.”