Students at the American University of Sharjah have a new campus amenity. Bookends recently installed a second-hand book vending machine on the university grounds. The Dubai-based bookstore offers an engaging alternative to traditional snack machines. Students can now easily purchase literature while walking between their daily classes. University officials praised the creative installation for promoting literacy on campus.

Transforming Reading Into A Convenient Impulse Purchase

Founders Grace Karim and Somia Anwar tested the idea with the campus community first. The concept received overwhelming support from hundreds of voting students. Karim and Anwar started their business after chatting during school pick-ups. They launched their online second-hand bookstore in February 2020. The pandemic created a strong demand for affordable, accessible reading materials.

In 2023, they opened a physical store housing over 20,000 books. The store hosts book clubs, author signings, and community events. The new vending machine takes their business model an innovative step further. It transforms book buying into a simple, convenient impulse purchase. Bookends hopes this initiative encourages more students to read for pleasure.

Aiming To Get One Million Books Read By 2030

Their ultimate goal is to help one million books get read by 2030. The machine regularly updates its inventory with fresh, popular titles. The campus now has a vending machine full of books to prove their point. It is the latest successful chapter in the story of Bookends. Students enjoy encountering a book during their everyday campus routine.

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