Students at East Carling Public School now have an exciting new way to access books by Indigenous authors, thanks to an innovative book vending machine provided by Start2Finish through its Indigenous Literacy Enhancement (LIT) Project.
The book vending machine provides students with free access to a wide selection of titles by Indigenous authors and artists, alongside books from other diverse voices that reflect the school's vibrant and growing community. Designed to make reading more engaging and accessible, the machine allows students to select and keep books of their choice, helping to build personal home libraries and foster a lifelong love of reading.
Students who "get caught reading" by their teachers can receive free tokens for the machine, and the book they select is theirs to keep and to share.
The book vending machine unveiling was celebrated by Oneida language students on May 13, 2026.
"We are thrilled to welcome the LIT Project into East Carling," said Susanne Young, Principal at East Carling Public School. "This new book vending machine will give students and families greater access to books that reflect Indigenous voices, paving the way for a lifelong love of reading and understanding of Indigenous history and experiences in Canada. We are excited to see how the project will strengthen literacy and belonging in our wonderfully diverse school community for years to come."
The LIT Project is an education-focused program supporting youth in Grades 1 to 8 from Indigenous and other diverse communities across Canada. The project celebrates authors and artists from Indigenous and other diverse cultural backgrounds in an effort to empower children to build strong connections to their land, history, family, and selves. When a student can see themselves in their libraries and the stories, they recognize that they can find home and acceptance no matter where they are.
