Children visiting the Brownwood Public Library could soon earn tokens and use them to choose free books from a new vending machine, after the Pizza Hut Foundation awarded the Brownwood Community Library Association a $10,000 literacy grant.
The Slice of Literacy Grant was presented Thursday by Pizza Hut representatives visiting the Brownwood and Coleman libraries. Brownwood library director Becky Isbell and Coleman library director Sue Dossey received certificates recognizing each library’s “outstanding commitment to literacy and community outreach.”
How the Brownwood book machine will work
Isbell said the Brownwood library plans to use the grant to purchase a book vending machine. Children will be able to earn tokens by reading, attending library programs and participating in other activities, then redeem those tokens for books they select themselves.
“Basically, we’ve got a range of books for the younger children and they can get a token for reading, for coming to programs, different things like that, and then they can redeem their token in the book vending machine. They can choose which book they want.”
Isbell said the machine is expected to offer a feature that could make the experience more memorable for young readers: “I believe the machine will play a melody when used.”
She said the machine could expand access to this type of reading incentive beyond the schools that already have one. Children who attend other schools, including homeschool and private-school students, would be able to participate through the public library.
“It’s something that we hope will help increase attendance at library programs, help increase kids reading and recording the reading for the summer reading club. And just in general, make kids excited about reading.”
Grant reaches two local libraries
The foundation awarded a second $10,000 Slice of Literacy Grant to the Coleman Public Library. Danny Oracion, the franchisee for the Brownwood and Coleman Pizza Hut restaurants, was among the representatives who visited both libraries.
Oracion said the grants were selected from a competitive national process. “There were over 500 applicants nationwide, and 18 were selected,” he said. Grant awards range from $1,000 to $10,000, and both the Brownwood and Coleman locations received the top $10,000 amount.
“Both the Coleman and the Brownwood locations received the $10,000 grants, which we thought was awesome, especially considering that we have some smaller communities, and we’re able to give back to those smaller communities.”
Next grant cycle planned for 2027
The Pizza Hut Foundation said the program supports the Pizza Hut Book It! reading program through additional literacy-focused initiatives. The grant program is open to nonprofits within 15 miles of a Pizza Hut restaurant that are actively working to improve literacy outcomes in their communities.
The next grant cycle is scheduled to open in early 2027. More information about the foundation and its programs is available at PizzaHutFoundation.org.