Animals frequently visit your local library, often as part of educational programs, though sometimes they are simply there to bring joy. Let's explore some of the diverse animal programs hosted by the Harris County Public Library over the years.

Pictured here are five children holding a python at the Parker Williams Branch Library in 2011.

Local animal keepers love to share important information with children and adults, such as this bumblebee program at the Katy Branch Library in 2004. This event helped Katy residents learn more about their insect friends’ impact on the community.

Events such as the Learning About Mammals program, offered at the High Meadows Branch Library in 2008, educate children about being safe around local wildlife. Some critters, like this possum, can’t help but love the spotlight!

In 1982, the Tomball Library invited Tommy the turkey to a Thanksgiving Day program. 

Through the Project Peep program, the CyFair Library was home to several baby chickens in 2017. The program provided a hands-on exploration of the egg-to-chicken lifecycle. Children could check on the eggs while they incubated for a couple of weeks in a habitat in the children's room. Once the chicks hatched, children got to hold and watch the newborns run around. Eventually, the chicks were sent to live at the Blue Star Ranch.

Attendance to animal events is always at its peak during Summer Reading Programs, like on the day of the Sharks and Rays program at the North Channel Branch Library in 2009.

Some animal events were as big as Texas itself! This Lone Star College CyFair Library outdoor program in 2009 featured two adult Texas Longhorn cattle.

Snake events are always popular! In addition to giving children exposure to snakes and instructions on proper handling, trainers use the programs to dispel myths about the misunderstood reptiles.

Pictured here are children at the Highlands Stratford Branch Library holding a yellow python in 2016.

Even library staff love to handle snakes! In 2024, Ms. Miranda from the Evelyn Meador Branch Library held a Burmese python.

There is something truly magical about encountering a wild animal at your local library.  In the summer of 1979, children at the Cypress Creek Branch Library (modern-day Barbara Bush Branch Library) met Honey, a young female lion.

More recently, in June 2024, Zoofari brought a toucan and chinchilla to the Barbara Bush Branch Library.

Larry the Camel visited the Northwest Branch Library in 2012 and offered rides to dozens of kids.

The Crosby Edith Fae Cook Cole Branch Library hosted a Chicken Tea Party in 2023. Children and chickens dressed in hats, scarves, and ties sat down to share tea and cookies.

Some events have allowed well-behaved pets to visit the library, such as these two furry friends who attended a 2000 Halloween event at the Atascocita Branch Library.

The Jacinto City Branch Library hosted a pet parade in 1977.

Sometimes, animals are unexpected visitors, such as when a girl brought her pet capuchin monkey when she visited the bookmobile in the 1954.

And at least once, the bookmobile delivered pets to children! HCPL staff tell a story from 1954 of the bookmobile librarian rescuing kittens. 

Click play to listen to the 59-second recording. Closed captioning in English is available.

When the library was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, library staff filmed virtual programs to stay connected with their communities. Librarian Elizabeth Hunt of the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library did a storytime program with her dog in 2021.

Some branches have had their own library pets.  For several years, the Baldwin Boettcher Branch Library had two parakeets, Ricky and Lucy.  Unfortunately, the building was closed when the branch flooded in 2017 due to Hurricane Harvey.  Both birds were safely relocated to a new home. 

Petting zoos are a popular year-round outdoor program. This petting zoo at the Galena Park Branch Library in 2009 was full of goats and sheep.

A girl reaches out to baby goats at Marsha’s Petting Zoo program at the Lone Star College-Tomball Community Library in 2024.

Some branches are polling locations during election season, drawing many people who might not be regular visitors to the library. The Evelyn Meador Branch Library hosts a petting zoo each November on Election Day. This baby llama is from the 2023 event. 

Many branches offer a program where shy or reluctant readers are paired with a therapy dog. The young reader can read a book aloud to a friendly, non-judgemental dog and gain confidence in their literacy skills.  These events are possible through partnerships with local organizations like Paws for Literacy.

A Faithful Paws volunteer with a young reader at the Fairbanks Branch Library in 2016 is pictured here.

Therapy dogs are frequent visitors at several branches.  Their ability to provide comfort and affection can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

Pictured here are Sawyer (front) and Mia (back) at a Destress and Convalesce program at the Katherine Tyra Branch Library @ Bear Creek in December 2023.  The program was designed to promote ways for students to relax during finals week. Sawyer and Mia are regular guests at the branch as part of the Wagging Tales story time program. 

Sawyer and Mia were also Grand Marshals of the 2024 Mardi Paw Mini Parade at the Katherine Tyra Branch Library @ Bear Creek.  They are pictured here with their handlers, Betsy and Fran.

In 2021, the Read with a Furry Friend program at the Spring Branch Memorial Branch Library was temporarily held outside.

Click here to view all items related to animals in the Digital Archive.  

Thank you to the many staff members who helped with this exhibit:

Kyla Bayang, Marie Brignac, Kimberly A. Clutter, Miranda Guillory, Katelyn Helberg, Beth Krippel, Lisa Naasz, Gisela Parker, Abigail Raebig, Sadina Shawver