【Travel Fun Fact】True Bookworms Only: Singapore’s First Book Vending Machine

By: Little Traveler

Step into a Hong Kong MTR carriage, and everyone’s either staring at their phones, dozing off, or—well—mostly on their phones. When was the last time you visited a newsstand to buy a newspaper or magazine? What remains today is the sight of true book lovers actually reading. What if Hong Kong had a...Singaporehas something called a “book vending machine.” Would that catch your interest?

SingaporeThe independent bookstore “BooksActually” has long been selling literary works. Owner Kenny Leck recently drew inspiration from the first book vending machine in London back in 1930. He hopes to bring attention to literary titles that were previously only available at the retail store Cat Socrates and the pop-up shop Naiise, leading to the idea of a “book vending machine.”

The owner admits the vending machine isn’t a major income source, but believes this method allows book lovers to purchase books anytime and also helps cultivate reading interest among the general public. Three book vending machines have been launched so far, placed respectively atSingapore’s National Museum, the Visitor Centre, and the Goodman Arts Centre, with their locations rotated every three months.

Each machine holds an average of 120 to 150 books, featuring titles from up to 20 local publishers and authors. The selection includes literary fiction, children’s books, comics, poetry, and more. Take a closer look and you’ll even find that the exterior of the vending machines are decorated withSingaporeartworks by artists such as Alvin Mark Tan, Speak Cryptic, and Odelia Tang. The owner’s concept not only incorporates local design but also encourages reading—a win-win situation.

Image source: straitstimes

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