diff --git a/gui-doc/info.rkt b/gui-doc/info.rkt
index 817d59d1..7d46247b 100644
--- a/gui-doc/info.rkt
+++ b/gui-doc/info.rkt
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
                      "syntax-color-lib"
                      "wxme-lib"
                      "gui-lib"
+                     "pict-lib"
                      "racket-doc"
                      "string-constants-doc"))
 (define deps '("base"))
diff --git a/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/snip-example.rkt b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/snip-example.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ab42fb68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/snip-example.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+#lang racket/base
+(require racket/class
+         racket/snip
+         racket/format)
+
+(provide circle-snip%
+         (rename-out [circle-snip-class snip-class]))
+
+(define circle-snip%
+  (class snip%
+    (inherit set-snipclass
+             get-flags set-flags
+             get-admin)
+    (init-field [size 20.0])
+    
+    (super-new)
+    (set-snipclass circle-snip-class)
+    (send (get-the-snip-class-list) add circle-snip-class)
+    (set-flags (cons 'handles-events (get-flags)))
+    
+    (define/override (get-extent dc x y	 	 	 	 
+                                 [w #f]
+                                 [h #f]
+                                 [descent #f]
+                                 [space #f]
+                                 [lspace #f]
+                                 [rspace #f])
+      (define (maybe-set-box! b v) (when b (set-box! b v)))
+      (maybe-set-box! w (+ 2.0 size))
+      (maybe-set-box! h (+ 2.0 size))
+      (maybe-set-box! descent 1.0)
+      (maybe-set-box! space 1.0)
+      (maybe-set-box! lspace 1.0)
+      (maybe-set-box! rspace 1.0))
+    
+    (define/override (draw dc x y left top right bottom dx dy draw-caret)
+      (send dc draw-ellipse (+ x 1.0) (+ y 1.0) size size))
+    
+    (define/override (copy)
+      (new circle-snip% [size size]))
+    
+    (define/override (write f)
+      (send f put size))
+    
+    (define/override (on-event dc x y editorx editory e)
+      (when (send e button-down?)
+        (set! size (+ 1.0 size))
+        (define admin (get-admin))
+        (when admin
+          (send admin resized this #t))))))
+
+(define circle-snip-class%
+  (class snip-class%
+    (inherit set-classname)
+    
+    (super-new)
+    (set-classname (~s '((lib "main.rkt" "circle-snip")
+                         (lib "wxme-circle-snip.rkt" "circle-snip"))))
+    
+    (define/override (read f)
+      (define size-b (box 0.0))
+      (send f get size-b)
+      (new circle-snip% [size (unbox size-b)]))))
+
+(define circle-snip-class (new circle-snip-class%))
diff --git a/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/snip-example.scrbl b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/snip-example.scrbl
index 505f9f98..bda23344 100644
--- a/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/snip-example.scrbl
+++ b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/snip-example.scrbl
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 #lang scribble/doc
-@(require scribble/bnf "common.rkt")
+@(require scribble/bnf
+          racket/runtime-path
+          (for-label wxme)
+          "common.rkt")
 
 @title[#:tag "snip-example"]{Implementing New Snips}
 
@@ -96,71 +99,25 @@ circle. Clicking on the snip causes the circle to grow. To enable
 copying an instance of the snip from one program/eventspace to
 another, the module should be @filepath{main.rkt} a
 @filepath{circle-snip} directory that is installed as a
-@filepath{circle-snip} package.
+@filepath{circle-snip} package. The snip also has a @racketmodname[wxme]
+reader implementation following it that must be installed as
+the file @filepath{wxme-circle-snip.rkt} in the @filepath{circle-snip}
+directory.
 
-@codeblock{
-#lang racket/base
-(require racket/class
-         racket/snip
-         racket/format)
+@(begin
+   (define-runtime-path snip-example.rkt "snip-example.rkt")
+   (define-runtime-path wxme-circle-snip.rkt "wxme-circle-snip.rkt")
+   (define (put-code filename)
+     (apply
+      typeset-code
+      #:context #'here
+      (call-with-input-file filename
+        (λ (port)
+          (for/list ([l (in-lines port)])
+            (format "~a\n" l))))))
+   (put-code snip-example.rkt))
 
-(provide circle-snip%
-         (rename-out [circle-snip-class snip-class]))
+This is the @filepath{wxme-circle-snip.rkt} file:
 
-(define circle-snip%
-  (class snip%
-    (inherit set-snipclass
-             get-flags set-flags
-             get-admin)
-    (init-field [size 20.0])
+@(put-code wxme-circle-snip.rkt))
 
-    (super-new)
-    (set-snipclass circle-snip-class)
-    (send (get-the-snip-class-list) add circle-snip-class)
-    (set-flags (cons 'handles-events (get-flags)))
-    
-    (define/override (get-extent dc x y	 	 	 	 
-                                 [w #f]
-                                 [h #f]
-                                 [descent #f]
-                                 [space #f]
-                                 [lspace #f]
-                                 [rspace #f])
-      (define (maybe-set-box! b v) (when b (set-box! b v)))
-      (maybe-set-box! w (+ 2.0 size))
-      (maybe-set-box! h (+ 2.0 size))
-      (maybe-set-box! descent 1.0)
-      (maybe-set-box! space 1.0)
-      (maybe-set-box! lspace 1.0)
-      (maybe-set-box! rspace 1.0))
-
-    (define/override (draw dc x y left top right bottom dx dy draw-caret)
-      (send dc draw-ellipse (+ x 1.0) (+ y 1.0) size size))
-
-    (define/override (copy)
-      (new circle-snip% [size size]))
-
-    (define/override (write f)
-      (send f put size))
-
-    (define/override (on-event dc x y editorx editory e)
-      (when (send e button-down?)
-        (set! size (+ 1.0 size))
-        (define admin (get-admin))
-        (when admin
-          (send admin resized this #t))))))
-
-(define circle-snip-class%
-  (class snip-class%
-    (inherit set-classname)
-
-    (super-new)
-    (set-classname (~s '(lib "main.rkt" "circle-snip")))
-
-    (define/override (read f)
-      (define size-b (box 0.0))
-      (send f get size-b)
-      (new circle-snip% [size (unbox size-b)]))))
-
-(define circle-snip-class (new circle-snip-class%))
-}
diff --git a/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/test-snip-example.rkt b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/test-snip-example.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2f99e27c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/test-snip-example.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+#lang racket/base
+(require wxme ;; this is dynamically required
+         racket/gui/base
+         racket/file
+         racket/runtime-path
+         racket/port)
+(define collection-name "circle-snip")
+(define snip-example-name "main.rkt")
+(define-runtime-path snip-example.rkt "snip-example.rkt")
+(define-runtime-path wxme-circle-snip.rkt "wxme-circle-snip.rkt")
+(define new-lib-coll-dir
+  (make-temporary-file "scribblings-gui-test-snip-example-~a"
+                       'directory))
+(dynamic-wind
+ void
+ (λ ()
+   (make-directory (build-path new-lib-coll-dir collection-name))
+   (copy-file snip-example.rkt
+              (build-path new-lib-coll-dir collection-name snip-example-name))
+   (copy-file wxme-circle-snip.rkt
+              (build-path new-lib-coll-dir collection-name "wxme-circle-snip.rkt"))
+   
+   
+   (define orig-namespace (current-namespace))
+   (parameterize ([current-library-collection-paths
+                   (cons new-lib-coll-dir
+                         (current-library-collection-paths))])
+     (define save-filename (build-path new-lib-coll-dir collection-name "circle.rkt"))
+     (define circle-snip-pos #f)
+     (define (get-circle-snip-pos) circle-snip-pos)
+     (define (set-circle-snip-pos p) (set! circle-snip-pos p))
+     (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)])
+       (namespace-attach-module orig-namespace 'mred/mred)
+       (define circle-snip% (dynamic-require `(lib ,snip-example-name ,collection-name)
+                                             'circle-snip%))
+       (eval '(require racket/gui/base racket/class racket/format))
+       (eval
+        `(let ()
+           (define circle-snip% ,circle-snip%)
+           (define t (new text%))
+           (send t insert "#lang racket/base\n")
+           (send t insert "(define s ")
+           (,set-circle-snip-pos (send t last-position))
+           (send t insert (new circle-snip%))
+           (send t insert ")\n")
+           (send t insert (~s `(provide s)))
+           (send t save-file ,save-filename)
+           (send t set-filename #f)
+           (define t2 (new text%))
+           (send t2 set-filename ,save-filename)
+           (send t2 load-file)
+           (define circle-snip-copy (send t find-snip (,get-circle-snip-pos) 'after))
+           (unless (is-a? circle-snip-copy circle-snip%)
+             (error 'test-snip-example.rtk "didnt find circle snip.1, found ~s"
+                    circle-snip-copy))
+           (define gui-loaded (dynamic-require ,save-filename 's))
+           (unless (is-a? gui-loaded circle-snip%)
+             (error 'test-snip-example.rkt "didnt find circle snip.2, found ~s"
+                    gui-loaded)))))
+     
+     (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)])
+       (define loaded (format "~s" (dynamic-require save-filename 's)))
+       (unless (regexp-match #rx"struct:object:circle-snip%" loaded)
+         (error 'test-snip-example.rkt "didn't find circle snip.3, found ~s" loaded)))
+
+     (define wxme-text-content
+       (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)])
+         (eval '(require racket/base wxme))
+         (eval
+          `(call-with-input-file ,save-filename
+             (λ (port)
+               (apply
+                string
+                (for/list ([s (in-input-port-chars (wxme-port->text-port port))])
+                  s)))))))
+     (unless (regexp-match #rx"[(]circle [0-9.]+[)]" wxme-text-content)
+       (error 'test-snip-example.rkt "didn't find circle snip.4 ~s" wxme-text-content))
+
+     (define wxme-content-as-pos
+       (parameterize ([current-namespace (make-base-namespace)])
+         (eval '(require racket/base wxme))
+         (eval
+          `(call-with-input-file ,save-filename
+             (λ (port)
+               (port-count-lines! port)
+               (for/or ([s (in-port read-char-or-special
+                                    (wxme-port->port port))])
+                 (and (syntax? s)
+                      (list (syntax-position s)))))))))
+     (unless (equal? (list (+ circle-snip-pos 1)) wxme-content-as-pos)
+       (error 'test-snip-example.rkt "didn't find circle snip.5 ~s vs ~s"
+              wxme-content-as-pos
+              circle-snip-pos))))
+ 
+ (λ ()
+   (delete-directory/files new-lib-coll-dir)))
diff --git a/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/wxme-circle-snip.rkt b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/wxme-circle-snip.rkt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2eb06eb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gui-doc/scribblings/gui/wxme-circle-snip.rkt
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#lang racket/base
+(require racket/class
+         racket/format
+         wxme
+         pict)
+
+(provide reader)
+
+(define circle-reader%
+  (class* object% (snip-reader<%>)
+    (define/public (read-header version stream) (void))
+    (define/public (read-snip text-only? version stream)
+      (define size (send stream read-inexact "circle-snip"))
+      (cond
+        [text-only?
+         (string->bytes/utf-8 (~s `(circle ,size)))]
+        [else
+         (new circle-readable [size size])]))
+    (super-new)))
+
+(define circle-readable
+  (class* object% (readable<%>)
+    (init-field size)
+    (define/public (read-special source line column position)
+      ;; construct a syntax object holding a 3d value that
+      ;; is a circle from the pict library with an appropriate
+      ;; source location
+      (datum->syntax #f
+                     (circle size)
+                     (vector source line column position 1)
+                     #f))
+    (super-new)))
+
+(define reader (new circle-reader%))