Bosque Farms Library Read to the Dogs Program Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays

Read-to-the-dogs sessions at Bosque Farms Public Library provide a regular, after-school opportunity for young readers to practice aloud with registered therapy dogs. The library lists the program under its youth offerings as: "Read to the Dogs, the first and third Tuesday and every Thursday at 3:30 p.m." Sessions are held at Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 West Bosque Loop, with the library open Thursday until 6:00 p.m. and other weekday hours beginning at 10:00 a.m.; patrons can reach the library at 505-869-2227.

The program follows the regional model used by participating libraries in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. As the sponsoring materials explain, "The registered pet therapy dog sits calmly and quietly for a story, creating a relaxing atmosphere for children. This gives children an opportunity to practice their reading skills without fear or judgment." Handlers are part of a registered-therapy-dog framework and, per program guidance, "The adults do not correct a child’s reading. Parents may sit quietly in the room with their child or take this moment to find a book and read just outside the program area."

Local practice and state observations place Read to the Dogs inside the library's Children’s Room and tie it to broader outreach. New Mexico State Library staff reported an integrated program day that included an outdoor presentation at the park behind the building by Ken Hays of Hays Honey Farm, followed "immediately" by Read to the Dogs in the colorfully decorated Children’s Room, the chance to turn in reading logs, check out books, and enter a Guessing Jar contest. NMSL coverage also highlighted library director Sabrina Edwards’ assessment that "the library has seen a big increase in participation this year, perhaps from a broadening of marketing efforts."

Bosque Farms’ listing categorizes Read to the Dogs under "Programs for Ages 6–18," although some community notices have described the events as open to all ages. Regional program literature cites a University of California study as motivation, reporting that "in a 10 week study by the University of California, researchers found a 12 percent increase in reading fluency by one group and no improvement by the group that didn't read to dogs," and that "it was reported by 75 percent of the parents that their children read aloud more frequently and with greater confidence after reading to the dogs." The local site does not specify which therapy-dog organizations supply handlers; Albuquerque program materials name organizations such as Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers, Warm Hearts Network, and High Desert Therapy Dogs as typical providers for participating libraries.

Practical details vary across listings. Multiple sources give a 3:30 p.m. start time; a third-party event listing showed one session scheduled 3:30–4:30 p.m., suggesting some events run for about an hour. Parents and caregivers should confirm age eligibility, session length, and sign-up requirements by calling 505-869-2227 before attending.

Read to the Dogs sits alongside Bosque Farms’ broader roster of community programs - family storytime, kids craft, monthly movie nights, and a summer reading program supported by the New Mexico State Library - and reinforces the library’s role as an after-school hub given the elementary school across the street and the park behind the building. For families watching reading progress, the sessions offer a low-pressure practice environment; for the library, they are a steady piece of an engagement strategy that Director Sabrina Edwards said is drawing more participation.