A 'fishy' program at St. Charles library

On Monday afternoon, more than 25 children gathered with their parents at the St. Charles Public Library for the "What's in the Aquarium?" program, organized by the library's youth services director, A. Denise Farrugia.

On Mother's Day, a new aquarium tank was installed at the library, replacing one installed in 1988. The new tank was a gift from the Junior Friends, a group of middle school student volunteers in St. Charles.

During the program, Farrugia read the story, "Memoirs of a Goldfish," as the children huddled around on the floor in their parents' laps.

Afterward, Grant Bedow, who maintains the aquarium, talked to the children about the types of fish in the tank and let them hold bags filled with new fish that were to be placed in the tank later that day. On a wall was a gallery called "Mail for Library Fish Friends," a collection of letters written from children during the aquarium renovation.

After the program, children gathered around the aquarium as Bedow dropped the creatures into their new home in the tank. Martin Sullivan, 1, of St. Charles excitedly pointed out all the fish to his mother, Jill. "He loves the aquarium," she said. "This is his favorite thing to do at the library."