Therapy Dogs in Libraries

Pipestone County Star 11-21-2013

Meinders Library will be hosting a Read to a Dog session on Saturday, November 23^rd, from 1-3 PM.

Why do children like to read to dogs?  Besides the obvious reason (it’s a dog!), a dog doesn’t care if you pronounce things right, he just likes to hear your voice.  A therapy dog is a non-judgmental listener and kids relax and begin to enjoy reading when they don’t feel as if someone might correct them.  It gives them a chance to learn that reading is fun and often leads to improved reading skills!

While the visits can be short ones, the effects typically last longer than just the time spent with the dog.  Since reading was made more fun by the presence of a furry friend, children learn to associate reading with enjoyment and will be more willing to pick up a book on their own.  In fact, research is showing that five or six visits with a dog can help a child gain two reading levels.

There are many libraries that are beginning to develop dog programs and some whose programs are very well established.  Both children and adults respond well to reading with dogs and seeing a dog in a library always ups the excitement, not to mention getting a non-intimidating reading partner.

Between 1 and 3 in the afternoon on November 23^rd, families can sign up for 15 minutes of quality reading time with an exceedingly happy listener.  Come and join us – it’s guaranteed to be a good time!  If there is enough interest in a program like this, we will try to schedule monthly visits with Marian and Montana and maybe there are more dogs in the community that would like to help!

PAFL Update:  Pipestone Area Friends of the Library is looking for members – anyone who is a friend to Meinders Library is welcome to join!  The Friends group works hard to promote the library, raise money for projects, and organize their yearly book sale, in addition to the HUGE amount of support they provide throughout the year.  Call us for the date of the next meeting!

The booksale is coming up (December 26 – 28) and people will be able to start dropping off books on the 16^th of December.  If you have any books lying around you want to get rid of, please bring them on down to the library!  We do not take encyclopedias or text books, but other than that…

Book Club Reminder: The book club meets the fourth of the month and the next meeting will be November 21^st  (the fourth Thursday this month is Thanksgiving).  The next book is The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  If you don’t have a copy, let the library know and we would be happy to order one for you.  Everyone is welcome!!

If you have questions or have a book you’d like to reserve or renew, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (507) 825-6714.  The hours for Meinders Library are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM – 8 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM.  Meinders Community Library is located at 1401 7^th Street SW, on the south side of the high school.