SHARJAH: Students at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) now have a new way to discover books — without having to make a trip to a traditional bookstore.
UAE second-hand bookseller Bookends has installed a book vending machine on the AUS campus, bringing pre-loved titles into a format more commonly associated with snacks and drinks. The machine gives students a convenient, grab-and-go option for finding their next read.
The installation follows interest from the university community. According to Gulf News, several hundred people voted in favour of the idea during a campus consultation, while only five voted against it.
For Bookends, the AUS machine represents another step in expanding access to used books across the UAE.
From a school-run idea to a UAE books business
Bookends was founded by UAE-based entrepreneurs Grace Karim and Somia Anwar. Their partnership began through conversations while waiting for their children after school before developing into a second-hand book business.
The company launched its online store in February 2020. Its business model centres on giving previously owned books another life rather than treating them as disposable items.
Bookends now operates a physical store at Dubai Digital Park in Dubai Silicon Oasis and maintains additional self-service bookshelves at locations around the UAE. Its current online marketplace lists pre-loved titles across categories including children’s books, classics, education, history, business and fiction.
The company’s Dubai store is located in Building A3 of Dubai Digital Park and is open daily, according to Bookends’ website.
A different kind of campus vending machine
At AUS, the concept changes the role of a vending machine from a source of quick refreshments to a point of access for reading material.
Rather than requiring students to visit a bookstore or browse an online catalogue, the machine places books directly within the flow of campus life. That could make discovering an unfamiliar title as spontaneous as picking up a snack between classes.
AUS already provides extensive library services for its students. Its library offers physical and electronic resources, while current borrowing policies allow undergraduate students to borrow up to 30 items.
The new machine therefore adds another way to encounter books alongside the university’s existing library infrastructure.
Second-hand books gain a wider UAE footprint
Bookends describes itself as a marketplace for buying and selling used books in the UAE. Its platform allows people to sell books and find new homes for previously owned titles.
The company currently lists more than 1,400 active sellers on its seller information page and accepts books for assessment before they are listed for sale.
Its locations page also shows a growing network of self-service bookshelves, alongside its stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The AUS vending machine extends that model into a university environment, putting second-hand books directly in front of a student audience.
For students, the appeal is straightforward: a new book can be found in an unexpected place, and a previously owned title gets another chance to be read.
Bookends has said its broader ambition is to help one million books get read by 2030.
What happened at American University of Sharjah?
American University of Sharjah has introduced a Bookends vending machine selling second-hand books on its campus.
What is the AUS book vending machine?
It is a vending machine stocked with pre-loved books from UAE second-hand bookseller Bookends, allowing students to purchase books in a grab-and-go format.
Who operates the book vending machine?
The machine has been installed by Bookends, a UAE-based second-hand books business.
Where is American University of Sharjah?
AUS is located in University City, Sharjah, UAE.
What does Bookends sell?
Bookends sells pre-loved books across categories including fiction, classics, education, children’s books, history and business.
Does AUS already have a library?
Yes. AUS has a university library offering physical collections, electronic books and other research resources. Its current undergraduate borrowing policy allows students to borrow up to 30 items.
Where is the Bookends physical store?
Bookends’ Dubai store is at Dubai Digital Park in Dubai Silicon Oasis. The company also lists a store at Baniyas Center in Abu Dhabi.
