Books and barks: Library pet programs for everyone
Libraries are going all out to celebrate their furry friends. From therapy dogs that help kids build reading confidence to cat-themed storytimes and library pet spotlights, these creative programs are warming hearts and sparking inspiration.
For even more pet and animal inspiration, check out Are dogs the new library cat? and Social Library, furry friends edition. Read on for a round-up of paw-some ideas and don’t miss your chance to share your own pet-centric programs with us.
Read a book to a furry friend
Reading to dogs is a fun and popular way to promote reading skills. Brooklyn Public Library offers a periodic Read with a Therapy Dog program, which invites kids ages five through 12 to practice reading in a low stress environment.
Reading to animals from local pet shelters is another way to promote literacy and pet adoption. In Kentucky, Hardin Public Library teamed up with their local animal shelter for their Waggin’ Tales event to allow kids to practice reading and give the animals some extra company.
Jackson District Library in Michigan hosted the Read to a Dog (or Cat) event, which welcomed adoptable pets to the library for a special visit. And Fayetteville Public Library hosted Cat Tales Kitty Literacy Project, a similar program for cats only.
Host a pet adoption event
From cuddly kittens to playful pups, libraries are opening their doors to connect adoptable pets with loving homes through creative adoption events. Evangeline Parish Library in Louisiana offered community members a chance to bring home a pet from the library by holding a pet adoption event.
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Adopt a pet for your library
Furry friends make great visitors to the library, but some libraries have full-time pets. Utah State Library featured a selection of their state’s public library pets in a blog and social media post. Read the post to see photos of Cosmo the cat, Pepe and Ginger the guinea pigs, and more.
When Bullitt County Public Library (Kentucky) adopted two turtles and a sucker fish, they invited community members to help choose their names. Check out their post to find out the winning names and see photos.
Miscellaneous pet programs
Libraries are including furry friends in many other creative ways, too. West Baton Rouge Library (Louisiana) hosted a bow-tie making event. Check out their post to see photos of the pets modeling their new looks.
Leeds Jane Culbreth Library in Alabama partnered with their local fire department to host a Fire safety for pets program. Kids and their caregivers were invited to learn about establishing a fire safety plan for their household members and pets.
Libraries continue to find creative and heartfelt ways to engage their communities, and these pet-themed programs are no exception. Inspired by these stories? Share your own pet-focused programs with us—we’d love to feature them in future. Reach us at via [email protected] or find us on Facebook.