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THERAPY ANIMALS IN LIBRARIES
Jacqueline Frank - Montana State University Library
Nancy Rosen - Intermountain Therapy Animals Coordinator
Therapy Animal overview
Why Therapy Animals in Libraries?
Academic
Libraries:
Paws to
de-Stress
OVERALL OUTLINE
Public Libraries
& Schools:
©R.E.A.D. program
THERAPY ANIMALS VS. SERVICE
ANIMALS

Improved mood
(Ernst, 2014)

Reduced anxiety & blood
pressure (Jalongo, Astorino, & Bomboy, 2004)

Improved reading, &
communication in children
(LeRoux, Swartz, & Swart, 2014)

Decreased feelings of
loneliness from pets (Hart & A.)

And more
BENEFITS OF THERAPY ANIMALS
he.Wikipedia.org – Animal Assisted Therapy

Libraries & Schools
(Jalongo, Astorino, & Bomboy, 2004 )

Senior Care Centers

Hospitals
(Martindale, 2008)
(Cole, Gawlinski, Steers, & Kotlerman, 2007)

Grief programs (Teso, 2011)

Airports (Huffington Post, 2013)

And more
VARIETY OF PLACES & SETTINGS
INTERMOUNTAIN THERAPY
ANIMALS: REQUIREMENTS

Academic libraries:

Reduces stress (Katcher,
Friedmann, Beck, & Lynch, 1983)

Reduced blood pressure
(Katcher, Friedmann, Beck, & Lynch, 1983)


Homesickness (Binfet, 2012-2013)
Public & School libraries:
(Jalongo, Astorino, & Bomboy, 2004 )

Reading abilities

Confidence

Communication skills
WHY THERAPY ANIMALS IN
LIBRARIES?

Idea to implementation

Program management

Lessons learned

Tips & Best Practices
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES:
PAWS TO DE-STRESS AT MONTANA
STATE UNIVERSITY
IT STARTS WITH AN IDEA
COMMUNICATION

Rational, Personnel, Schedule,
Location, Cost, Concerns,
Education, Promotion,
Assessment

Concerns:


Allergies, fears, sanitation &
cleanup, noise

Location was important
Partnership with ITA was key
PROPOSAL

Large group of volunteers

Volunteers are friendly,
and excited to participate

Predictable Animal
behavior from registered
therapy animals

Liability insurance

Free!

Other affiliate programs in
Montana
PARTNERSHIP WITH ITA: BENEFITS

Create schedule

Solicit Staff volunteers

Email to ITA scheduler

Create space

Advertising

Put on event
IMPLEMENTATION & PROGRAM
MANAGEMENT

Posters & table tents

Flyer with schedule

Website & Blog

Newspapers

Social media

Radio PSA’s
PROMOTION

Library employees
help take stats

Attendance

Schedule

Survey

Comments

Infographic:
https://magic.piktochart.com/output
/3955318-paws2destressfall2014
ASSESSMENT

Newspaper

Television

Online

Nationwide Spring 2013:

Associated Press

Huffington post

Yahoo News

CBS Seattle

Nwfdailynews.com (FL)
PRESS

Paw print path

Comment flip chart

Surveys

Benches for backpacks

Open Floor space

2 hour time slots, some dogs for
only 1 hour
WHAT WORKED

Pet rollers

Schedule in lobby

schedule before 5pm, for
attendance and library staff
volunteers

Schedule one time slot after the
last final exam
LESSONS LEARNED

Partner with established therapy animal organization

Predictable animal behavior

Liability Insurance

Start as high up as possible when asking for approval

Location

Avoidable, to address fears & allergies

Easy to find

Open floor space
TIPS & BEST PRACTICES:
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
Invite the press

Assessment

Library employees
take attendance

Survey, comments

Paw Path

Pet Rollers
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sybel.JPG

TIPS & BEST PRACTICES:
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Public Libraries

Schools
R.E.A.D PROGRAMS
R.E.A.D PROGRAMS
R.E.A.D PROGRAMS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiaGm0fhzvI
R.E.A.D PROGRAMS

Start a program

Volunteer opportunities

Register your pet as a
Therapy Animal
GET INVOLVED

Binfet, J. (2012-2013). Examining the effects of animal-assisted therapy on homesick university students (Pilot).
Okanagan: University of British Columbia.

Cole, K., Gawlinski, A., Steers, N., & Kotlerman, J. (2007). Animal-Assisted Therapy in Patients Hospitalized With
Heart Failure. American Journal of Critical Care, 16(6), 575–85.

Ernst, L. (2014, October). Animal-Assisted Therapy: An Exploration of Its History, Healing Benefits, and How Skilled
Nursing Facilities Can Set Up Programs. Annals of Long-Term Care, 22(10).

Friedmann, E., Thomas, S., & McCune, S. (2012). Are the Presence of Petso or the Presence of Partners Associated
with Better Moods During People's Daily Lives? SAZ Conference, The Arts & Sciences of Human. Cambridge.

Hart, & A., L. (n.d.). The Role of Pets in Enhancing Human Well-being: Effects for Older People. In Waltham, The
Waltham Book of Human-Animal Interactions: Benfits and Responsibilities.

Huffington Post. (2013, 12 6). SFO Joins Other Airports In Welcoming Therapy Dogs To Relieve Stressed Holiday
Travelers. Huffington Post.

Jalongo, M. R., Astorino, T., & Bomboy, N. (2004 , August). Canine Visitors: The Influence of Therapy Dogs on
Young Children's Learning and Well-Being in Classrooms and Hospitals. Early Childhood Education Journal,, 31(1).

Katcher, A. H., Friedmann, E., Beck, A. M., & Lynch, J. (1983). Looking, Talking, and Blood Pressure: The
Physiological Consequenses of Interaction with the Living Environment. In A. H. Katcher, & A. M. Beck, New
Perspectives on Our Lives with Companion Animals (pp. 351-359). Philidelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

leRoux, M. C., Swartz, L., & Swart, E. (2014). The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Reading Program on the Reading
Rate, Accuracy and Comprehension of Grade 3 Students: A Randomized Control Study. Child Youth Care
Forum, 43, pp. 655–673.

Martindale, B. (2008). Effect of animal-assisted therapy on engagement of rural nursing home resident. American
Journal of Recreation Therapy, 7, 45–53.

Teso, J. (2011). The Effect of a Therapy Dog on the Effectiveness of a Child Life Intervention with Adolescents
Experiencing Grief and Loss. Arizona State University.
REFERENCES
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QUESTIONS
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