Children's book vending machine installed at Alabama Family Court

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has partnered with the Children's Policy Council (CPC) of Jefferson County to install the CPC's second children's book vending machine at Bessemer Family Court, according to a UAB report.

The book vending machine is located on the second-floor waiting area for families and includes age-appropriate books at no cost to families navigating the court system.

"Bessemer [Family Court] was the natural choice for a second vending machine since the Bessemer division is the only other Family Court in Jefferson County," Cora Causey, assistant professor of early childhood education at UAB, told the news outlet. "We are grateful Commissioner Sheila Tyson was generous in providing the support and that Bessemer Family Court Judge Lorraine Pringle is helping get books in children's hands."

CPC Executive Director Shelly Mize told the news outlet that "the children's book vending machine is an excellent example of community collaboration to support grade-level reading. Caregivers at Family Court can sign up for a free token, and children can use the token to select a book from the vending machine to take home."