Library Mascots

Today I read an interesting article on cats in libraries.  Although my library does not have a cat, it seems there are a number of libraries around the U.S. and the world that have a resident feline or even a dog.  Sometimes the presence of a 4-legged library mascot raises complaints and different issues, as evidenced by the story of a man who put up a bid to evict a cat from a library in Massachusetts.  I'm teetering on the fence about animals in the library, but I have to admit I'm leaning against having library mascots. 

Now before you think I'm some humbug who has a thing about our furry friends, I feel the idea of having a live library mascot sounds cute but just isn't practical.  It's nice to think of a library having a resident cat or dog.  Cats are quiet, keep to themselves mostly, and bring smiles to a lot of people.  Trained dogs are also quiet, bring anxiety levels down, and often used nowadays to help children improve their skills reading aloud.  After all, reading to a friendly golden retriever is less stressful to many kids than reading to their peers or adults.

On the down side, what about those patrons who are allergic or have a fear of cats and dogs?  My mother is an avid reader, but she also has an intense fear of cats (blame her uncle for throwing a cat on her when she was a kid lying on the sofa).  A library cat would keep her away from a place she loves visiting regularly and would have a negative impact on the quality of her life.  People with allergies would be affected similarly, forced to stay out of the library because of the consequences.

It's one thing to have service animals accompany people into public places, but another to have resident mascots roaming about.  Cats and dogs in the stacks can potentially keep people away from libraries.  If libraries cannot part with their mascots, they need to find a solution for those patrons with allergies or phobias.  Perhaps patrons can call ahead and ask to keep the cat or dog behind the desk while they are visiting.  Or maybe designate a "mascot zone" that would restrict the cat or dog to just one area but keep other areas free.  We need to remember that libraries need to be accessible to everyone.

Just my take from the perch.