Archive for August, 2010

Bobtail tabby gave Library Cat Program its start

August 29, 2010 By: kwilliams Category: assistant library cat, Cats and reading, Cats in the Stacks, Celebrations, Kids and library cats, remembering big footsie

SUSAN LOESCH

As our fall semester gets underway I thought it might be fun to tell you how our Library Cat Program got its start. To do that you have to meet Piper, a bobtail orange tabby who has just had his 10th birthday.

Piper came into my life in September, 2000, when he was just 5 weeks old. He had been
found in a drainpipe at a big grocery store; someone heard him crying. He was rescued by Care for Animals, and they asked me to foster him.

Oh, my goodness, did I fall in love with him! The first thing this little ball of fluff did was cuddle up under my chin and nurse on my neck. To this day he still does that, especially when he is nervous. (more…)

Old friends greet Shadow on eve of new school year

August 22, 2010 By: kwilliams Category: Cats and reading, Cats in the Stacks, Kids and library cats

SUSAN LOESCH

Here we are back at school; it’s Registration Day, when the kids come back. I remember this day last year, Alex with me, bad news about Footsie to deliver to the kids. I wondered if we would make it through the year.

Make it we did, even with Alex’s sudden death, and now a new year begins.

Shadow, Barney, Hexie and Tank will share Library Cat duties, with Shadow and Barney as co-Head
Library Cats. (more…)

Book store with birds happy ending to library cat summer

August 15, 2010 By: kwilliams Category: Cats and reading, Cats in the Stacks, Field trips, Library cat vacation

SUSAN LOESCH

For our last field trip of the summer, Shadow and I planned something which was sure to get us in the mood for school. We went to WordsWorth Books in Pulaski Heights to pick out a book for our first story hours of the year.

WordsWorth is Little Rock’s largest independent bookstore. In addition to the latest bestsellers, they carry many first editions and local-interest books. We also found calendars, candles, soaps, note cards, games and puzzles. I have always loved going in this store because it has such a cozy, almost old-fashioned feel.

We were welcomed by owner Jean Cazort. (more…)