Bringing a new meaning to the term “snackable content”, in September, the University of Lincoln installed free vending machines dispensing passages from classic novels or poems instead of packets of crisps.

A short story dispenser at WaterPark Place lets users choose how many minutes they want to read then spits out a story for free. copyright D. Dundas

Looking for a story to read your kid before bed? Don’t want to look at your device over your coffee break? Need a read for the commute? Near the foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay, just outside the food court, near the pedestrian overpass to Union Station, you’ll notice a machine. It was installed just about two months ago by a forward-looking team from Oxford Properties, which runs the building, led by general manager Beverly Tay.

Upon entering Earl Gregg Swem Library, most of us head straight to our favorite work areas, in a rush to either secure a table on the first floor for meetings or more casual studying, or to claim a desk on the second and third floors for a quieter study session. No matter the case, in our focused frenzies, we tend to miss the short story dispenser situated to the left of the library entrance along the elevator wall. The little machine, with its backlit panel and dark base, prints short stories from a wide range of genres onto receipt-like slips of paper after readers have selected their preferred length of story, either one, three or five minutes long.

Short story dispensers print 5-minute reads for travelers. (Oakland International Airport)

Put down your phone and find a seat. It’s time to print out a free short story and read it while you wait for your flight. Last month, Oakland International Airport unveiled two short-story dispensers for passengers in both its terminals.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is partnering with innovative French company Short Édition to provide free Short Story Dispensers to engage passengers while they wait for flights.

The machines print a few lines taken randomly from a database of 100,000 titles

Free vending machines that dispense words instead of chocolate have been installed at the University of Lincoln. The two machines print a few paragraphs from a classic novel or a poem taken randomly from a database of 100,000 titles.

Short Story Dispenser at Lincoln University - A snack for your mind - SWNS

This university has become the first in the United Kingdom to install vending machines that are designed to dispense free short stories for students to read on campus—and any writer will soon be able to submit their own prose.

Photograph courtesy of Calgary Public Library.

Located beside Lukes inside the new Central Library, the short story dispenser offers one-minute, three-minute and five-minute stories on demand. When you order a latte at Lukes inside the new Central Library, consider whether you’d like a one-minute, three-minute, or five-minute story with it.

Hier, l’Hôtel Monsieur Jean était officiellement inauguré. En plein cœur du quartier historique du Vieux-Québec, Monsieur Jean étonne à plusieurs niveaux. L’emplacement, central pour les touristes qui visitent la capitale, offre à la fois une vue sur le fleuve et sur les célèbres remparts de la ville. Que ce soit pour une nuit ou pour un plus long séjour, l’une des 49 suites vous impressionnera et vous accueillera à bras ouverts. Ce nouveau projet au cœur de la ville mérite assurément le détour, ne serait-ce que pour venir admirer le hall ou récupérer une histoire romantique au distributeur d’histoires courtes @Short Edition.

Les Distributeurs d'Histoires Courtes participent à l'événement

Chaque jour, un million de voyageurs empruntent les grandes gares franciliennes.Quel meilleur lieu pour faire passer un message? Le 70e anniversaire de la signature de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme, le 10 décembre 2018, est l'occasion de réunir les citoyens autour des trente articles de la charte qui représente «l'idéal commun à atteindre par tous les peuples et toutes les nations».

Professor Mary Stuart launches Lincoln Short Story vending machine. Photo: University of Lincoln

Two innovative new vending machines were launched at the University of Lincoln this week, but instead of the usual chocolate and crisps it will dispense poetry.