'Read to a Dog' At Library

As part of McDonald County Library's 2016 Summer Reading Program, children are getting a chance to share a story with a dog. This new event, which has been made possible with the help of volunteers Joe and Carolyn Kozlosky, pairs children with dogs in hopes of providing a low-stress setting for practicing reading skills.

"The beauty of the program is its simplicity -- all that is required are kids, dogs, and a few good books!" said library director Jeana Gockley. The majority of the work falls to the Kozloskys, since they own and train the dogs. Without them we would not be able to offer this new program and I am beyond thankful for their willingness to help."

The program is open to any children in kindergarten through sixth-grade who can read independently. Children are welcome to borrow a book from the Library collection to share with their dog partner, or if more comfortable, they may bring a favorite from home.

The next "Read to a Dog" event will take place at 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 24, at the Southwest City branch. For families interested in participating at the Pineville branch, the dogs will visit at 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 15.

All Summer Reading Program events and activities are free, and many are made possible thanks to a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as administered by the Missouri State Library, and partnerships with local organizations.

For more information and a complete schedule of events, call 417-223-4489 or visit the library's website at www.mcdonaldcountylibrary.org.