How do you feel about animals in libraries? I'm not talking service animals, but pets of patrons or a library pet.

I am a library person. In fact, I'm a member of the Friends of the Library. The library is like a sanctuary, peace and quiet. Granted we meet people there and there is a certain amount of socialization but it shouldn't be anything and everything goes. Some people are allergic to animals also.

Despite that charming book about Dewey the Library Cat, I think that libraries should be animal free. Librarians have enough to do without having to care for library pets, (my large and very highly rated county library is having to close some branches during the week because they can't afford to staff them, and they have cut way back on the numbers of librarians) and patrons with allergies shouldn't have to wonder if they dare come in to the library. Plus, people with pets can't always be counted on to keep them under control.
I love my 2 kitties but have no desire to haul them around with me as I run errands!

The "peace and quiet" of libraries is already loud enough these days especially after school. Animals would just make it crazier. Besides the thought of having an animal go "oops" would be horrible.

I really like the idea of a peaceful fishtank in a corner, with pretty fish swimming serenely around. But I wouldn't want a cat or dog that could bother someone with allergies. A library should be a sanctuary for everyone.

It is funny that Claybird mentioned it, because I happen to be reading "Dewey" right now, LOL!

It really just depends on the animal, whether the staff is willing to put in the care, and whether the library is equipped with a filtration system to cut down on allergies.

I know my son's Kindergarten class has 2 guinea pigs (and my class in 4th grade had one) - it is part of teaching the children responsibility, nurturing and caring. You can visibly see these kids relax around these animals when they are little bolts of energy all the rest of the day!

As long as they're not hamsters in a library running around on a noisy little wheel all day long!

The Homewood Public Library in Alabama is in a renovated church. Where the baptistry was is a large aquarium. It's very peaceful.

One of the departments has a huge fish tank. It is quite lovely and while you are sitting waiting for someone to meet with you. Someone does need to take care of the tank and be responsible. We have a pet friendly mall too. But, there is a time and place for everything.

I can see a non-noise making "animal" like a fish or a turtle. As long as the tank is kept clean.

I am just curious why the library does not uphold the traditional Quiet and no talking that used to be upheld in all libraries. Not any more. The parents bring in unruly loud kids, the people are on their cell phones even though the policy states turn off cell phones. Libraries are used for research and studying many times and this is no longer possible. It is up to the Library staff to uphold these rules. They have fallen down in their responsibilities or are afraid of the patrons. The library is a privledge not a free for all.

I would not mind a cat in the library such as "Dewey" but animals are animals and you must also think of them. They would be subjected to all sorts of humans. I think when going to a public place the best place is to leave them home where they belong.

I think in this day and age when teachers need to be careful of children bringing guns to school and never knowing about the mental stability of who you may be speaking too, the library staff getting older...etc... times have changed drastically. I find the smaller libraries quieter, but the larger ones are mostly a free for all. Yes policy is one thing, being able to enforce it with all the "crazies" out there is something entirely different. I was in a library last year when two patrons got into an argument in a computer lab and one of them pulled a gun, and this was in a "good" neighborhood....you just never know.

I'm self conscious even when we are getting ready or cleaning up from a booksale and we are taking the cart or boxes back and forth through the library. People are working with earphones, studying, engrossed in books. Some places should be quiet zones.

I guess then there are no sacred places...not even in church where people walk in and shoot people.

LOL, when I saw this title at the right side of the screen I thought it was about keeping animals in libraries. The middle school I used to teach in had an iguana and some birds that lived in the library. They were very quiet!

My pastor brings his dog to church - he roams at will and will sleep at the pastor's feet during Mass. Everyone has to watch where they step so that they don't trip over him.

Well, we now have 2 little frogs in an aquarium in our storytime room.