Running Wild: Learning about Animals @ Your Library

By Brenda Thomson, Community Relations Coordinator

September 21, 2011

Kids love animals. I know I did. My childhood was populated by animal friends like guinea pigs, puppies, fish, snails, chickens, goats and a boa constrictor.

I always loved visiting the zoo. Besides gorillas and giraffes, penguins and polar bears, I once saw (and heard) a fascinating bullfrog exhibit! Over the years I have ridden elephants and camels, swum with tropical fish, walked through bird and butterfly sanctuaries, and still never gotten tired of seeing and learning about animals.

Although full of interesting wildlife, Wyoming does not have a zoo, but that doesn’t mean children can’t enjoy learning about both common and exotic animals, right from the comfort of their home town. That’s what your public library is for!

Many children, especially boys, love learning about animals just for fun. The library has books, magazines, documentaries, encyclopedias, and premium online resources, covering just about every species and habitat known to man! The same resources can be used to complete school reports about animals, which are often assigned about this time of year.

Books for school-age children and adults about animals can be found on the 2nd floor of the library, with books for the youngest readers located in the children’s department on the basement level. If you need assistance finding books for the right age group, or about a specific animal, ask a librarian! – they are experts at helping you find just what you need.

Though less in-depth than books, magazines are also helpful for learning about animals. Children will enjoy “Ranger Rick,” “Zoobooks” and “National Geographic Kids.” Adults may prefer “National Geographic,” “Wyoming Wildlife,” “Horse and Rider,” or “Dog World.” Current issues are available for in-library use, and previous issues can be checked out for 3 weeks at a time.

Movies like the BBC’s “Planet Earth,” are a great way to bring learning about animals to life. Watch and learn about fascinating creatures and their habitats through our collection of documentaries, located in the basement for children and on the 2nd floor for adults – these also check out for 3 weeks.

The “Grzimek’s (pronounced “chimmix”) Animal Life” encyclopedias have been a trusted source of animal data for many years. That storehouse of information is now available to you 24 hours a day, for free, from your home computer! This premium online resource includes hundreds of full-color, high resolution photos, and fully-researched details about over 4,000 animal species!

Just visit the library webpage, www.natronacountylibrary.org, and have your library card and PIN handy. For now, you can click on the Grzimek’s banner ad on our front page, but for long-term use, click on “Search the Online Resources” then “Homework Help.”

Whether it swims, flies, runs, waddles, hops, roosts or gallops, there is one place to go for information on your favorite animal: your public library.

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