Thanks to Brightwood resident Lauren Woods for sharing this awesomeness: “I won a grant to make my dream of a local authors book vending machine a reality in DC. My Kickstarter campaign for the DC area’s first book vending machine is live!”
The Kickstarter says:
“Hi, I’m Lauren Woods, a Washington, DC author. I’m newly dipping into bookselling. I want to make it easier for people to find great local literature, with Washington, DC’s first book vending machine, featuring DC-area writers.
Other countries, like Japan, China, France, and the UK have already embraced book vending machines, but so far, aside from select schools and libraries, this trend hasn’t hit the United States in a serious way. This book vending machine will feature books of literature from authors across the DC region, chosen for their artistic and literary merit, and reflecting the incredible range of backgrounds and life experiences across the DC region. We are not selecting books based on profitability. But I have a hunch that many people are tired of scrolling their phones and are eager for accessible literature to nourish their minds. That’s why I’m asking for your help in kickstarting DC Literature on the Go.
I’ve already received a generous grant from the Awesome Foundation to kick off this project, and now I need your help fundraising for the rest. If I raise this full amount, I can not only pay for a customized vending machine (through a vendor I’ve already located), I can also place my first order of books immediately, ensuring that local writers get paid as soon as possible. I plan to change the stock out monthly, so that over the course of a year, dozens of different DC-area authors can have their work featured. Thanks for helping to make this dream a reality.
PS – I am currently narrowing down ideas for locations. If you have ideas, I’d be glad to hear them!”