You might have noticed new equipment in the lobby of the library! Please welcome the library’s Short Story Dispenser!

At the closing ceremony of The American Short Story Conference, the Leatherby Libraries dedicated the new Short Story Dispenser produced by Short Edition.

Our Short Story Dispenser is a stand-alone kiosk delivering fiction to the Chapman Community while breathing new life into storytelling. It is a creative and innovative way to boost reading for fun, encourage creative idleness and improve the waiting experience. The story dispenser connects readers across countries and cultures by publishing contemporary short stories, poems, and comics free of charge, at the push of a button. The dispenser offers 1-minute, 3-minute, and 5-minute length options and varies by audience and language. Additionally, the machine is eco-friendly. It uses a unique paper from sustainable sources and a heat-printing process instead of ink.

Even though more than 300 dispensers are installed worldwide, Chapman is the first and only academic library in California to own one!

The machine is located in the lobby of the Leatherby Libraries, near the elevators.

Left to Right: Dr. Joanna Levin, Chair of the English Department, Essraa Nawar, English Liaison Librarian, and Dr. Kevin Ross, Dean of the Leatherby Libraries

Special thanks to Vice President and Chief Information Officer Helen Norris and Chapman University Information Systems and Technology (IS&T) department for cosponsoring the machine.

How to Use the Machine:

  1. Make sure the machine is on (the glass will be lit up).
  2. Hover over a button for a 1-minute, 3-minute, or 5-minute story. Please hover only once. It will light up and make a noise.
  3. The machine will take a few seconds to print the story. Please wait until the full story has been printed before taking the story slip.

For more information, please contact English Liaison Librarian Essraa Nawar at nawar@chapman.edu or Chair of Resources & Scholarly Communications Kristin Laughtin-Dunker at laughtin@chapman.edu.