Snack on a Story with the Launch of the University’s New Story Dispensers

The University of Lincoln has recently taken delivery of two new short story vending machines – the first of their kind to be installed in a UK university. The machines, made by French publishing company Short Édition, allow users to select from a one, three or five minute short story which is then printed on a receipt-sized scroll of eco-friendly paper.

The machines will be unveiled by Professor Mary Stuart and Ian Snowley, Dean of Student Learning Development and University Librarian at a launch event in the Library Learning Lounge on the 2nd floor of Minerva at 3.30pm on Tuesday 17th September.

A recent study commissioned by Canary Wharf, the first UK site to install one of the machines, estimated that 36 per cent of UK adults gave up on a book in the last year because they had no time to finish it. Created with busy lives in mind, the dispensers aim to make literature more accessible in public spaces, drawing peoples focus away from their screens with portable, bite-sized pieces of literature that can be finished in a matter of minutes.

Staff are invited to come along at 3.30pm on Tuesday to try the new story dispenser for themselves. A second story station will be on the ground floor of the Library.