TURBEVILLE, S.C. — There's a new way for students to access free books across Clarendon County.
“We want to emphasize the importance of reading and just so many benefits, the benefits of reading,” said at the Clarendon County School District Assistant Superintendent of Administration Dr. Jacqueline Inabinette.
She was joined by students, staff, and the Carolina Family Engagement Center, who are assisting with books.
One is located at Ginie’s Coin Laundry in Tuberville, while another opened at Wash N'Go in Manning and 2 more will follow in Summerton.
The students will receive coins based on good actions they are seen completing in class, once given one they can take it to one of the four locations and take a book.
“We replacing them so we can strengthen our home school and community partnership, and in addition to that, we are hoping it will help these students, will help them have a bigger reading library at home, so we are building home libraries," Inabinette said. "The goal here is to allow children to see themselves in books, allowing them to travel through a book and, in addition, we are thinking books will give children strength when it comes to being problem solvers.”
Each vending machine will feature 300 books for PreK to 12th grade, with stories the district hopes will represent their students.
“We selected books that mirrored our student's population, so for those who are multi-linguistic students, we selected books that matched and tailored to their needs, as well, so our thoughts are as they come to the book vending machine they will see themselves in a book and perhaps select that book,” Inabinette said.