Facility Dogs, like Libby, are working dogs specifically trained to help more than one person in a facility like our library. Unlike assistance dogs that serve one person, professionally trained facility dogs work with a handler to serve multiple people who need social interaction, recovery motivation, comfort, and/or a feeling of safety.
Libby
the Library Dog
Frequently Asked Questions
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Libby lives with her primary handler, Wendy, and comes to work with her every day.
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Libby is essentially at the library to bring joy, comfort and positive interactions with patrons and staff. She greets patrons, attends library events and provides a stress- relieving environment for struggling readers.
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Libby and her handler will respect your decision to either interact or not. If you do not like dogs, you can either just walk away or notify the handler. We want all library patrons to feel comfortable.
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Libby is a standard poodle and hypoallergenic and does not shed. Libby will also be groomed on a regular schedule and bathed once a week. This will help cut down on allergens. However if you are extremely sensitive, please let us know and we will remove Libby from the area.
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Libby loves treats, but they can be a huge distraction too. We want to keep Libby's focus on doing her work and motivate her with pets and lots of love.
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Libby loves other dogs, but while on the job she will not interact with other animals. If a service dog comes into the library, Libby will vacate the area to allow the service dog to do their work.
