COLUMBIA, S.C. — At Richland Library's Cooper branch in Forest Acres, it’s all about paws and pages as young readers practice their storytelling skills with furry friends.
Richland Library brings in therapy dogs, which provide a comforting and non-judgmental audience for children to practice reading.
Katherine Duncan is the children’s specialist at Richland Library's Cooper branch.
“Dogs are sort of a neutral party, you know?" Duncan said. "It’s not a family member or friend who they’re maybe worried might make fun of them.”
Duncan said these events help build children’s communication skills. “It definitely has improved their confidence and their ability to put themselves out of their comfort zones.”
Django is a certified therapy dog that comes to the library to create the ideal audience for young readers without any fear of judgment.
Juliet is also a certified therapy dog. Her handler, Lorien Owens, says she loves when the children read to her. “The ride here, she gets really excited. She loves kids.”
