Kids visiting loved ones serving time behind bars at the Berks County Jail now have a new resource to make the experience a little more welcoming.
The Berks County Public Library System, in partnership with officials at the Bern Township facility, installed a book vending machine at the jail. The vending machine works similarly to its food and beverage counterparts. Visiting children will be given a token upon arrival that they can use to redeem a title of their choosing. All books may be brought along during their visit and are free to take home.
Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach tests the new book vending machine that was recently installed at the Berks County Jail to help provide opportunities for kids to connect with their incarcerated loved ones. (Courtesy of Berks County Public Library System)
Stephanie Williams, system administrator for the Berks County Public Library System, said the installation of the machine will help provide opportunities for kids to connect with their incarcerated loved ones through the joy of reading.
“Reading together as a family can help strengthen bonds between kids and their loved ones,” Williams said. “It’s one of the focal points behind several programs facilitated by our libraries, including 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and family story times. By making books available during these family visits, we hope to offer the same opportunity for connection while providing a means to delve into their imagination.”
The jail purchased the book vending machine and initial supply of books. The machine can hold more than 230 books spanning a wide reading range, and the Library System will continue to stock the machine as titles are chosen.
“We know that visits can be difficult for children, and we want to create an environment where they feel comforted and supported,” said Berks County Jail System Warden Jeffrey Smith.
He said his team knows that visits can be difficult for children, and he wants to create an environment where they feel comforted and supported.
“The book vending machine gives children a chance to choose a story of their own, turning what can be a stressful experience into an opportunity for learning, imagination and joy,” he said. “It’s an investment not only in their visits here, but in their futures as readers and learners.”
The book vending machine is one of three ongoing projects between the library system and the jail, including monthly book club events and donating library books that have been taken out of circulation to the collection at the jail.