The library children’s department has a very exciting new program to share with the community. We recently began a partnership with the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, which registers therapy animals throughout the United States to assist people in a variety of situations. One of the Pet Partners initiatives is called “Read With Me,” which helps promote literacy education. Handlers and animals that are members of the initiative have learned to apply their proactive and constructive communication skills in a setting with children, in an effort to improve literacy. Children that read with animals tend to have greater improvements in reading competence, motivation, and self-confidence than those that do not. In addition, reading with animals helps improve voluntary reading participation as children look forward to spending time with the therapy animal.

Luna, a Bernese Mountain Dog, and her handler, Glenn, are members of the Read With Me program in Great Bend. Luna has been stopping by the library on select Thursdays to allow children to read to her. Luna is very friendly and loves to hear stories and meet new people! She also enjoys chasing treat balls, walking, hiking, and swimming. For the month of December, Luna will be in the library at 3:30 pm on the 13th, 20th, and 27th. Parents and guardians that would like their children to read to Luna are asked to pre-register by going to our library website and clicking on “Special Events” under the “Children’s” drop-down menu. On the page that loads, click on “Read to Luna sign up” and fill out the short form to reserve a time with Luna and Glenn. Of course, if you don’t want to read to Luna and just want to meet her, you are welcome to stop by while she is here and do not need to sign up! She would be happy to meet you if she is not working with a reader.

If you have a reluctant reader or a child that loves animals, we hope you will bring them by to visit Luna and read with her. If you would like to know more about the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program, visit their website at www.PetPartners.org. 

See the schedule below for the library’s activities for the next two weeks. December is a slower month as we prepare and plan for the new year, but we hope you will stop by and see us during the holiday season. For more detailed information on any library events, programs, or resources, check out our website (www.greatbendpl.info), send us an email (gbcirc@greatbendpl.info), or call the circ desk (620-792-2409). You can also “like” and follow GBPL on Facebook. 

Michael Adamyk is the Marketing and Technical Services Manager at the Great Bend Public Library. He can be reached by email at gbcirc@gmail.com.