The Porch Learns More About Kids Reading To Dogs At The Library

For children needing confidence when reading, the Metropolitan Library System is helping children receive a much-needed boost with the help of therapy dogs.

For more on how the MLS is helping children, the Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages Porch visited the Almonte Library near Southwest 59th Street and South May Avenue to learn more.

Megan Filipowski, a Metropolitan Library System manager, said workers like her are thrilled for this new opportunity and what it could mean for young readers.

"It's a great program that we're just so thrilled to be able to offer to our youngest readers," Filipowski said. "To be able to grow confidence in their reading skills with the puppy, who can go wrong with that?"'

Filipowski said the library locations that do offer this service all operate within a set time and day, so be sure to check with your local library to see if or whet it is offered.

"Kids will be able to pick a book [and] find a dog that they can read to," Filipowski said. "They'll read to that dog for about 20 minutes...depending on how busy it is. In a full session, they'll get to read to maybe three dogs."

As for the children already experiencing this new program, Filipowski said the kids love it.

"I've seen families come, older sisters reading to a dog while [their] younger brother is just sitting there," Filipowski said. "It's a good opportunity for them to be able to read out loud and not feel like there's anybody that's listening to them and and making sure that they're saying all the words exactly right."

The dogs used in these reading sessions must be certified therapy dogs, and several MLS locations are looking for dogs able to participate.

For more on this program and other programs and services the Metropolitan Library System offers, visit their website here.