I love libraries. Whenever I’m in a new city, I love to visit their library: being around so much human knowledge and expression in one place? It’s exhilarating!

I especially love my local library. Which is why I was incredibly excited that they reached out to me in January 2022 about writing for a short story dispenser project they were doing! I couldn’t say yes fast enough.

A short story dispenser is a little machine in a public place that prints out poems or short stories on a small piece of paper, kind of like a receipt.

The Eugene Public Library, the Eugene Public Library Foundation, and the Eugene Airport partnered together to bring the Pacific Northwest its very first short story dispenser! The machine is located past the security gates in the Eugene Airport, and it’s just launched with over 30 pieces from local writers, including me! As of right now, this is the only short story dispenser and any Pacific Northwest airport, according to KPIC.

I wrote an original poem for the project. I haven’t written poetry for a long time, but I wanted to do something short and sweet, something really different than a lot of the other published work I’ve done. You can read my poem, read others’ works, and even submit your own on the Eugene website.

If you’re ever in the Eugene Airport, stop by the dispenser and get a printout! You’re in for a treat, whether it’s my work or someone else’s.