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When one thinks of vending machines, one tends to think of delicious, but likely not healthy snacks like candy bars, potato chips, and soft drinks. But there is nothing wrong with treating yourself to vending machine fare every once in a while.
But what if a vending machine could feed brains instead of stomachs? That’s what LitBox, a vending machine that dispenses books hopes to do, reported NPR.
The Book Vending Machine Features Local Authors
The idea of a vending machine for books came to Washington DC author Lauren Woods after she saw something similar in Europe. But unlike the European vending machines she had encountered, Woods wanted her machine to do something more specific than just sell books: she wanted it to sell local books.
She had grown disillusioned with what she considered the sensationalism being sold in big-chain bookstores, and the lack of bookstores that focused on local literary authors.
“I had friends who wrote award-winning books and couldn't get their books into DC bookstores because they were smaller presses, or they didn't have a mass appeal, or the book buyer didn't think they would be profitable. And that always seemed wrong to me,” Woods told NPR.
And so she set out to change that via a vending machine. According to the Washingtonian, LitBox is currently stocked with books that focus on literature, from poetry, to fiction, and even children’s books, all written by local authors.
The choice of literature was deliberate. Woods wanted people to get away from the tell-all biographies and policy hot-takes that seem to monopolize the DC market, and slow down a bit and develop some empathy. This, according to her, is the primary role of literature; allowing readers to inhabit the minds and lives of people who may be different from them.
Small Press and Big Press Books
For now, according to NPR, the vending machine seems to be a success. Not only are people buying books, but they are buying as many small press books as they are big press books.
In addition, the operations manager of Western Market food hall, which houses the vending machine, has remarked that she has noticed customers gravitating towards the LitBox. This is particularly fitting as the food hall itself prides itself by working with local vendors. Now they can add local books to the list as well.
The idea of a vending machine for books is not new, but the idea that it can be used as a tool to highlight certain authors or types of books is new. Thanks to Woods’ creativity and drive now the authors in her community can get the support they need, while readers can discover how delightful it is to find a new book or author whom they may not have encountered in a big-chain bookstore.
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