“Read all about it: Short Story Dispensers promote libraries and reading

In 2018, PLA initiated a new project called Fostering Creative Community Connections. In the project, four public libraries (Akron-Summit County Public Library, The Free Library of Philadelphia, Richland Public Library, and Wichita Public Library) were selected to host Short Story Dispensers in unexpected locations in their communities, including airports, a general store, a VA hospital, and a Department of Family Services office. The project, a partnership between Short Édition and PLA, and funded by the Knight Foundation, aimed to increase public awareness for libraries while renewing interest in literacy and literature and increasing civic engagement through community outreach, partnerships, and the empowerment of emerging literary voices. PLA has just finished a series of articles highlighting the work. Read all about it below!

• Short Story Dispensers Add a Fresh Twist to Storytelling
• Nation’s First-Ever Short Story Cube Sparks Excitement at Illinois Libraries
• Focus on Spanish-Language Short Stories Broadens Community Reach
• San José Public Library’s Storytelling Contest Puts Local Voices Front and Center
• “Philly Storied City” Project Turns the Spotlight on Locals and Their Stories”

Short Story Dispensers Make Strides, Despite Pandemic