This Alhambra vending machine churns out books, not Baby Ruth bars – Pasadena Star News

Nov 09, 2024

Blanca Vidaurre, 4, of Alhambra, checks out a book from the Little Free Library at Emery Park in Alhambra with her brother Emilio, 2, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Alhambra Library recently installed a vending library at the park with more than 200 books available to be checked out at anytime. Vidaurre’s mother Ariane says her daughter always picks up books from the free book exchange and expects she will soon be checking out books from the library’s vending machine. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Alhambra Library has a vending library at Emery Park, seen on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, with more than 200 books available to be checked out at anytime. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Blanca Vidaurre, 4, of Alhambra, checks out a book from the Little Free Library at Emery Park in Alhambra on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Alhambra Library recently installed a vending library at the park with more than 200 books available to be checked out at anytime. Vidaurre’s mother Ariane says her daughter always picks up books from the free book exchange and expects she will soon be checking out books from the library’s vending machine. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Alhambra Library has a vending library at Emery Park, seen on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, with more than 200 books available to be checked out at anytime. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Blanca Vidaurre, 4, of Alhambra, checks out a book from the Little Free Library at Emery Park in Alhambra with her brother Emilio, 2, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. Alhambra Library recently installed a vending library at the park with more than 200 books available to be checked out at anytime. Vidaurre’s mother Ariane says her daughter always picks up books from the free book exchange and expects she will soon be checking out books from the library’s vending machine. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

ALHAMBRA — The city of Alhambra has unveiled a vending library machine at Emery Park, providing access to more than 200 books for checkout, available 24 hours a day, officials announced today.

“This is a wonderful step forward in ensuring our community has access to educational and recreational resources, no matter their schedules,” Alhambra Councilwoman Adele Andrade-Stadler said in a statement. “By providing these 24/7 services at Emery Park, we’re helping families connect, learn and grow together.”

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The vending library features a wide range of books in multiple languages, catering to all ages, city officials said.

“It is especially beneficial for residents on the west side of Alhambra who may not always have the time to visit the main library,” according to a statement from the city.

The vending library kiosk also includes lockers to securely store book holds and other requested items for easy pick-up.

The kiosk was made possible through funding from the 2022-2023 California State Budget, championed by Assemblyman Mike Fong as a community project for Alhambra, according to city officials.

Along with the vending library, the city has introduced another vending machine called “A Locker of Things,” offering family-friendly games like UNO, Spoons and Candy Land, among others.

For more information on how to access the Locker of Things and Vending Library, residents can visit www.alhambralibrary.org or contact the Alhambra Library.