Flynn prepares to R.E.A.D

After being approved by Gibson Memorial Library’s Board of Directors last month, therapy dog Flynn has been getting ready to work at the library.

Great Danoodle (great dane and poodle mix) Flynn is a therapy dog that has earned his Canine Good Citizen title and is now an American Kennel Club registered therapy dog. He is also a part of the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Flynn already volunteers at Greater Regional Health, where his mom Dr. Kristin Krakovec works. He’s also preparing to become a R.E.A.D - a reading education assistance dog.

Through the R.E.A.D. program, dogs are read to by children in order to increase the child’s reading and communication skills. Some children feel more comfortable reading aloud to a dog rather than a person. Creston’s library will soon become one of the thousands of schools and libraries around the world that utilize this program.

All paperwork and vaccinations needed for Flynn to come to the library have been completed. He is now visiting the library on his own time to get comfortable with the sounds and smells. Library Director Danielle Dickinson Thaden said she hopes to start the program in February.

In other library board news...

The library has replaced its AED thanks to a donation from Greater Regional Health. New AEDs normally cost between $1,200 and $3,000. The staff will soon be going through training to refresh their AED use knowledge.

Overall circulation is up compared to last December. Young adult books in particular have had higher checkout levels and a door count of more than 200 more people than last year. This is in part due to popular programming, such as a charcuterie class and the library’s “noon” years party.