Some of the following program ideas will work great in a public library setting, and others might be more suited to school library and/or classroom situations. Please modify them accordingly. Many of these programs can work well even for readers who DIDN'T like the selection! Let everyone know what works for you by leaving a message on the OBNJ Message Board
Programs & Contests:
Animal Adoption @ Your Library.
Partner with your local ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or pet shelter to do a pet adoption at the library. Some animal shelters provide programs for people interested in adopting a pet; this is a great way to cooperate with your Adult Services Department. Offer the program about adopting, and then have a day of adoption. This is a great opportunity for older children and teens to volunteer at the library.
To find a local organization affiliated with ASPCA go to their "find a shelter" website.
Adopt an Animal Shelter.
Plan a program to help out your local animal shelter. Homemade dog biscuits are easy to make, or simply purchase a few bags of dog and cat treats. Have kids decorate paper lunch bags and put in some biscuits and treats for the shelters to use as "take home" bags when people adopt pets.
4H Seeing Eye Dog Program. http://nj4h.rutgers.edu/dogs/default.asp
The New Jersey 4H Club runs a program that trains puppies for the Seeing Eye Foundation in Morristown, New Jersey. Families can apply to become puppy raisers in the "I See for You" puppy program, a program that trains the puppies until they are old enough to qualify for Seeing Eye training. You may have a group close enough to your library willing to do a program for kids to explain the program and show some of the dog training techniques. More information can be found at the New Jersey 4H website, along with a contact link to the state organization.
Professional Dog Trainer. http://www.k9trainers.com/new_jersey.htm
Invite a professional dog trainer to talk to kids at your library. If you don't know a local trainer, you can find a list at the Dog Trainers in New Jersey website.
The Iditarod. http://www.mymusher.com
Karen Land, a three-time participant in the 1150-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race across Alaska, discusses how she got involved with sled dog racing and what led her to participate in the sport's most grueling race. Karen Land and her Alaskan husky will be doing presentations in the New Jersey area in March 2009; email her for information and scheduling details at mymusher@yahoo.com.
Read to a Therapy Dog. http://www.tdi-dog.org/OurPrograms.aspx?Page=Children+Reading+to+Dogs
Therapy Dog International is a New Jersey based organization that trains dogs to provide companionship for various therapy situations. Giving children the opportunity to read to a dog allows the child to gain confidence in reading. Librarians and teachers sing the praises of these "Tail Waggin' Tutors."
Animal Talent Show.
Host an afternoon of fun at your library by giving animals center stage. Hold auditions for children and their pets to perform. Give each accepted child and animal a timeslot on a designated afternoon and hold an animal talent show with prizes for zany participants.
Pet Show.
Host a pet show at your library. Have children bring their pets and introduce them one at a time. Have each child talk a little about their pet. So that no one leaves disappointed, award each pet with an award. Set up a table of judges who can decide what award each entry wins - biggest, brownest, friendliest, etc. If you are not ready to have real animals in your library, try hosting a toy animal show. It can work the same as a show with real pets, with each child talking a little about the toy animal they brought, and winning an appropriate award. Or allow children to bring whichever they choose - a real pet, or their favorite stuffed animal.
My Dog Photo Contest.
Have children bring in a photo of their dog for display in the library. You can simply have a display, or you can turn it into a contest. Try including all submitted photos into a book that you publish to be viewed in your library or school after the deadline. Make up your own criteria. For example, it could be a "Marley" look-alike contest, or a photo of the "worst dog" behavior, or a "My Dog is Better than Marley" contest. You could have children write an entry to go with the photo as to why their dog should win the contest. (For fun, let kids enter toy dogs as well as real dogs.) You can also host this as a "Pet Photo Contest."
Gaming Program
Check out the multitude of video and computer games centered on dogs. For example, Nintendogs for Nintendo DS is a real-time pet simulation video game for kids. Explore what's around!
Craft Ideas:
For libraries that include a craft or activity as part of their book discussion group, or for those who choose to focus on an activity for children, listed below are some possible dog craft ideas. (For public libraries in New Jersey, don't forget to check in your 2006 summer reading manuals for dog crafts and games. You can find links to some more program ideas in the "Book Information" portion of the OBNJ website.)
