U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell was all smiles as she pressed a few buttons on a vending machine, then sat down to read books to infants by bedside.
Sewell this weekend took part in the expansion of the NICU Bookworms program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham that was designed to encourage early reading to newborns. A new vending machine delivers and instant library of books for the youngest learners.
Medical experts say that premature and sick newborn infants have an increased risk for neurodevelopmental deficits, including in language and reading. UAB and Children’s of Alabama created NICU Bookworms in 2021 to address deficits, increase parent-infant bonding and encourage shared beginning at birth.
The initiative has expanded with the addition of the book vending machine. The machine encourages parents to earn tokens through parent-infant activities and education programs to be redeemed for new books.
Sewell, D-Birmingham, was on hand for the ribbon cutting and demonstration on Friday. She said the program carried special significance to her.
“My mommy was a librarian for 40 years, and despite losing her three years ago, I couldn’t think of a better way to honor her legacy during the holiday season,” Sewell said.
Her mother, Nancy Gardner Sewell, was a longtime librarian and educator.
“Reading to the babies today reminded me of how I traveled through books long before I had a passport.,” she said Friday evening. “It was a beautiful way to spend my day.”
Sewell chose several titles from the machine. She was joined by Dr. Viral Jain, creator of the NICU Bookworm Program and Dr. Mitch Cohen, chair of the UAB & Children’s of Alabama Department of Pediatrics.
Jain created the program at UAB and Children’s after studying the positive impacts of reading aloud to neonatal intensive care unit infants. Jain at the time also co-wrote a children’s book titled “Baby Bookworm” that were given to families in the UAB Level IV Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Children’s NICU.
“It will also us to allow families to choose books out of book vending machine,” said Sandra Milstead, Family Nurse Liaison in the UAB Women and Infants Center who will oversee the vending machine. “It’s brand new to us and we’re super excited about it.”
Birmingham elected officials have become part of a reading tradition at the unit. Mayor Randall Woodfin in 2021 also read to newborns when the program was launched.
