City of Alhambra installs 24/7 vending machine with access to more than 200 books
The city of Alhambra made a unique step towards providing easy access to literary works of all genres, any time of day by installing a 24/7 vending machine at one of their most popular parks.
City officials unveiled the new machine on Monday, which comes equipped with more than 200 books for checkout at Emery Park, which is located in the 2700 block of Mimosa Street.
The books come in a multitude of languages and cater to all ages, with genres ranging from educational textbooks to novels being read at one's leisure.
"This is a wonderful step forward in ensuring our community has access to educational and recreational resources, no matter their schedules," said Alhambra Councilwoman Adele Andrade-Stadler in a statement. "By providing these 24/7 services at Emery Park, we're helping families connect, learn and grow together."
The vending library kiosk, which was funded through the 2022-23 California State Budget and championed by Assemblyman Mike Fong, also features a number of lockers taht will securely store book holds and other requested items, making them easy to pick-up whenever needed.
"With a diverse collection of books in multiple languages and for all ages, the Vending Library ensures that everyone can find something to enjoy," the city's statement said. "Whether you're looking for children's stories, young adult fiction, or novels in your preferred language, our Vending Library has it all."
Additionally, the city also introduced a separate vending machine that they call "A Locker of Things," which provides easy access to family-friendly games like UNO and Candy Land.
