Halton Hills Public Library's (HHPL) Georgetown branch is now home to of one of Canada’s first short story dispensers.
Created by French publishing house Short Édition, the unique stand-alone kiosk delivers on-the-go stories while breathing new life into the art of storytelling, says the library team.
Patrons and visitors can choose from three categories - Local, Worldwide or For Kids - and with the push of a button, the machine will dispense a paper scroll with a randomly chosen short story, poem or comic for free.
One button will always be dedicated to children’s stories and the other two will provide other themes throughout the year, ensuring a fresh and diverse collection of stories.
While the dispenser is currently at the Georgetown branch of the library, it will eventually be making its way around the community for everyone to enjoy.
The stories are printed on eco-friendly, recyclable paper, and thanks to printing on demand, there's no waste, no ink and no cartridge.
“We are very excited for patrons and visitors to print and take away a new story each time and enjoy it in the library, while waiting for an appointment, relaxing at home, on vacation or wherever they find themselves,” says Beverley King, Acting Chief Librarian and CEO. “This dispenser combines the love of inventive and entertaining short-format literature with a new experience for all.”
In addition, the full collection of stories, poems and comics can be accessed from anywhere on the library’s short story portal, available through the eBook section of the Halton Hills Public Library website.
Since its introduction in 2016, the short story dispensers have found homes across five continents and won the Consumer Electronic Show Tech for a Better World award in 2018.
