Principal Darlene Silleman, library media specialists Kathy Degenfelder and Kim Nobles, two student bookworms, Jerry Greenlee of the Kiwanis Club of Gowanda, and Superintendent Dr. Robert B. Anderson.

GOWANDA — A unique literacy and engagement tool in the foyer at Gowanda Middle School is turning heads – and pages.

A brand-new book vending machine is the talk of GMS. Donated by an anonymous benefactor via the Kiwanis Club of Gowanda, it is stationed directly outside the library/media center.

“It’s always fun to bring interesting and attention-grabbing opportunities to our students that promote literacy and the love of reading,” said library media specialist Kathy Degenfelder. “Picking out books from a flashy machine has created some buzz and anticipation.”

She noted district library media specialist Kim Nobles served as the contact to the Kiwanis and did the research to find a vending machine that would best work for the GMS building. She also helped compile a list of books to purchase.

“Our library team always works in tandem to find new ways to promote literacy and the love of reading,” noted Degenfelder.

Students’ good behavior is monitored at GMS and tokens for “buying” books are distributed via the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports rewards system. The vending machine will also tie into reading incentives. The donation has an estimated value of $10,000 – $5,000 for the machine and another $5,000 to keep it stocked with a variety of titles of interest to students in grades five to eight.

“We are so thankful to the anonymous donor for their extremely thoughtful – and extremely generous – donation via the Kiwanis Club of Gowanda,” said Principal Darlene Silleman, who welcomed Kiwanis representative Mr. Jerry Greenlee for a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony at GMS in November. “It is partnerships like these that help make so many valuable experiences for our students turn from a dream into a reality.”