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Ruby F. Carver Elementary School in Henrico, Virginia is celebrating an educator’s legacy with Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine. Beverly Parsley, who taught at the school for 38 years and died last year. To memorialize her dedication to reading education, the school installed a custom designed book vending machine.
The vending machine also memorializes Jane O'Toole.
“Carver is a special place, and it was special to Jane,” said Mike O’Toole, Jane’s husband and founder of Walk4JaneO.
O’Toole’s children attended the school from 1993-2007, and Jane O’Toole became a familiar presence as a volunteer there. "Walk4JaneO," one of the school's community partners, paid for the $7,000 vending machine.
Custom Graphics to Honor Beverly Parsley's Dedication
Beverly Parlsey was a teacher at Ruby F. Carver Elementary School for 38 years, retiring in 2018. She embodied the adage, “The influence of a good teacher can never be erased.”
Mrs. Parsley was that good teacher, influencing the many students whom she taught . Sadly, she passed away on April 28, 2023. However, her legacy continues as this Book Vending Machine is dedicated to Beverly Parsely in remembrance of the career and impact she had as an educator.
“Beverly was an extraordinary teacher,” Patricia Gregory, who taught with Parsley at Carver for many years said to VendingTimes.com “She had a passion for teaching reading and she loved sharing books with the kids — especially books with characters who were full of personality and plots were full of humor . . . As a friend and colleague she was helpful, loyal, kind, respectful, supportive and always ready to help. Beverly made Carver a better place for the students and the staff.”
The Impact of Community Support on Funding
The project “celebrates the power of strong community partnerships, the love of students and the love of reading,” said Kristy Budny, Carver’s principal.
The side of the blue and gold machine bears Parsley’s likeness and a description of her legacy and contributions. In front, a small “Walk4JaneO” logo is below the slot where tokens are deposited.
The $7,000 device was purchased by "Walk4JaneO," a group formed by friends and family of Jane O'Toole. Jane was a dedicated volunteer at Carver school who passed away in 2017. Her husband, Mike O'Toole, co-founded Walk4JaneO and mentioned that Carver held a special place in Jane's heart. Their children were students at the school from 1993 to 2007, and Jane frequently volunteered there.
Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine
Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine™ is a novel concept designed to make reading fun and accessible.
This vending machine aligns with PBIS Rewards schools already have in place. Teachers utilize golden Inchy tokens to reward students for academic and behavioral achievements. Students use the earned token to choose a free book from the machine. This innovative approach encourages literacy while fostering enthusiasm among young readers.
“The machine builds a community of readers and encourages students to share their book choices,” Neeley Karkosak, Carver Elementary School’s librarian, told HenricoCitizen.com
“Many of our students don’t have access to books at home and the machine enables them to start their own libraries at home and experience the joys of reading.”
Celebrating Community and Literacy
Carver Elementary is not alone. Book Vending Machine have made huge benefits & impacts on other communities as well. In April 2018, researchers from New York University conducted a study where they installed book vending machines in impoverished communities where access to children's books is limited or non-existent.
The survey revealed that participants rarely considered local libraries as an option. Surprisingly, the computers within these libraries seemed to be the main attraction. Kids rarely paid attention to the books. This issue is exacerbated for children during the summer months when access to school libraries is not unavailable. Student’s face an intellectual disadvantage compared to their more privileged peers.
To investigate the impact of access to books, vending machines were installed in high-traffic areas of low-income neighborhoods in Detroit and Washington, D.C. The goal was to observe how this access would influence family reading habits and mitigate the academic setbacks experienced during the summer.
The results were promising. Over the summer, the vending machines distributed more than 64,000 free books to 26,200 unique readers, with 38,235 repeat users. This experiment provided valuable insights through surveys, interviews, and the collection and analysis of extensive data from interactions with the machines.
Even with book vending machines, many children who weren't interested in reading still didn't choose a book. Forty percent of people who walked by looked at the books but didn't pick one.
Research shows that just having books or adults to help is not enough," said Susan B. Neuman. "Kids need books nearby and adults who encourage reading."
That is where role models like Beverly Parsley and Jane O’Toole come in. A book vending machine designed to memorialize their legacy stands as a visual reminder of how learning to read is a partnership between children and adults.
Conclusion
Reflecting on the lasting impact of Beverly Parsley and Jane O'Toole, it is clear that their dedication to education and literacy has left an indelible mark on the community. Inchy’s Bookworm Vending Machine stands as a powerful tribute to their legacies. It symbolizes their unwavering commitment to fostering a love for reading in young minds. This innovative initiative honors the memories of these remarkable women. But it also serves to inspire for other schools to adopt similar programs.
By promoting literacy and recognizing the contributions of dedicated educators and volunteers, we can continue to enrich our educational environments and nurture the next generation of avid readers and lifelong learners.
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