Reading Has Gone to the Dogs at Ellicottville Memorial Library!
Reading Has Gone to the Dogs at Ellicottville Memorial Library!
The Ellicottville Memorial Library invites young readers to a heartwarming literacy event featuring Gilley the therapy dog — a friendly Labrador who loves listening to stories.
Did you know that reading to dogs - or any support animal - can help children improve their literacy skills? That’s right! In an interview with Scholastic, Dr. Linda C. Mayes, a developmental pediatrician at the Yale School of Medicine, said reading to a pet can help young readers develop fluency and increase their confidence in a calming environment. No pets? No problem! The Ellicottville Memorial Library is pleased to host therapy dog, Gilley and his owner/handler, Martha Brown on Saturday, November 22nd from 10:00-11:00am, when young readers are invited to come in and read to this lovable Labrador Retriever!
Library Director Laura Flanagan is pleased to welcome back Gilley, who listened to young readers earlier this month, and is looking forward to returning on the 22nd. Interested readers can sign up for a 15-minute slot by calling the library at 716-699-2842. Flanagan described the format: “Basically, they come into the library and they get to pick out a book that they would like to read, and then they go into a little room and Gilley has a special bed that he lays on to listen. Martha is in there, as well.” The 15-minute slots are one-on-one, and Brown is always in the room with Gilley. “The library offers this great room, where there is a window so parents can look in and they can see what’s going on and not bother the child,” Brown added.
Brown acknowledged the many advantages of reading aloud to a pet, such as a dog. “When it’s really hard for kids to read out loud in a classroom, they get very nervous and upset,” she explained. “They can’t do it sometimes, but if they can read out loud and practice reading out loud to a dog… it makes them a little more comfortable and it gives them practice.” Brown pointed out that a dog isn’t going to interrupt, correct, or judge a child’s reading ability, and the fact that this event is in a quiet, private environment means no one else will be reacting in these ways either.
Flanagan noted that in general, dogs tend to put people at ease, which is another benefit of Gilley’s presence at the library. “They’re not as tense about reading,” said Flanagan of the children who participate. “They’re happy to be there because there’s a dog laying there with them.”
It’s hard to find a dog who’s friendlier or more comfortable around children than Gilley, Brown noted. “He’s seven years old, and he is a very people-oriented dog,” she said. "He loves to greet people and kids and other dogs - so very, very friendly. He just loves to be around people, and his kryptonite is kids!” So what does Gilley get out of this experience? “I think it’s the petting,” Brown laughed. “He loves it!”
Brown thanks Mary MacQueen, the dog trainer that helped her with Gilley, and Flanagan for her dedication to children and reading. “She has been great about supporting Gilley and I in this program,” she said, adding her appreciation of Flanagan’s support of Dooley, another of Brown’s therapy dogs who participated in a similar past event at the library.
For more information about next Saturday’s event and to book a reading slot with Gilley, call the Ellicottville Memorial Library at 716-699-2842. Follow the Ellicottville Memorial Library on social media and sign up for their e-newsletter to stay in the loop of other events and activities the library has planned.