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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
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A book vending machine gives homes to unwanted books

We want one. - by Livia Gamble
  • 24 Apr 2018
A book vending machine gives homes to unwanted books
Craig Small/Vimeo

A Toronto bookstore owner has taken vending machines to an exciting new level.

Owner of The Monkey's Paw, Stephen Fowler, a bookstore that specialises in lesser-appreciated books came up with the idea for a vending machine as a way to move books that weren’t selling, calling it the Biblio-Mat.

 

Initially, Stephen said he imagined the machine to look like a “painted refrigerator box with one of my assistants inside; people would put in a coin and he would drop a book out," he explained to Quill & Quire. 

nario View Profile
157 likes - View Post on Instagram
Random gem in Toronto: The Biblio-Mat is a coin-operated vending machine that dispenses randomly-selected old books. Swipe to see it in action! "It is the first device of its kind, allowing curious bibliophiles to sample the excitement and mystery of antiquarian-book hunting for the cost of a single $2 (Canadian) coin." So naturally, I exchanged my $10 bill for 5 go's. The Biblio-Mat is inside the Monkey's Paw bookstore in Toronto. Anyway, this ranks pretty highly on my favorite things I saw in Toronto that weekend!

Luckily, that never eventuated. Instead, Craig Small, the head of an animation studio in Toronto and friend of Stephens suggested they make one instead.

It took Craig four months to figure out the best way to keep the machine running smoothly.

yessedh View Profile
158 likes - View Post on Instagram
Snacks for the brain 📖 #themonkeyspaw #vendingmachine #literature #book #books #libro #libros #torontolife #toronto #the6 #the6ix

The best part is the price. Purchasing a random book from the Biblio-Mat will set you back $2 CAD.

"It's just an extension of the store," Fowler said to the National Post. "You come here to find the book you never knew existed. It's all about serendipity."

The BIBLIO-MAT
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Livia Gamble
Livia Gamble
Based in Sydney, Livia Gamble will not sleep until she has discovered every possible way to use bi-carb soda and vinegar. When she isn’t reporting on ways to improve your home and garden, she can be found knitting socks (by choice) and will never say no to pizza.

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