Community Corner
Chinn Park Regional Library's Pet Tale
Squirt the Turtle is a favorite of many child visitors to the library.
A father and his young daughter walked in to Chinn Park Regional Library to check out some books. He turned his head for half a second and his daughter took off. The little girl ran straight to a tank half-filled with water on the front desk, where she saw a turtle swimming.
She waved her arms in excitement and let out a tiny, high-pitched yell. When her father caught up to her, he knelt down and let her stand on his knee to get a better view. She found the library's biggest celebrity.
Squirt, an 8 year old painted turtle, was named after the character in the children's movie Finding Nemo. He was given to Connie Gilman, the Branch Administrator at Chinn Park Regional Library, by a friend whose brother found the turtle after draining his backyard pond.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Gilman kept Squirt in a small tank in her office, but would move the tank with her when she worked at the front desk.
After a while, Gilman began to notice how much library patrons adored the turtle, so the decision was made to keep Squirt at the front desk permanently. He grew more popular by the day.
Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
People began to donate food, money and even his current, larger tank, to help make sure that Squirt had a comfortable place to live. Along with the donations, Squirt's habitat is funded by the Friends of Chinn Park Regional Library, a group that raises money through book sales and the Friend Shop at the front of the library.
The turtle has become such a hit that he is often the highlight of the trip for many children who visit.
"I have a turtle at home, but he doesn't swim," said Shan Lateef, 7, who likes to go to the library with his dad. "I like Squirt because he swims. It's more fun to come to this library because they have a pet."
"We have a lot of kids that come running," said Joann Hartzell, a librarian and Squirt's main caretaker. "It's not uncommon to hear little voices say, 'I want to go say hi to Squirt.' It can be very charming to show the kids what he eats, and Squirt knows who to beg and dance for to get his shrimp."
Regardless of age, most people seem to enjoy Squirt. With the support of the public and the Friends of the Library, he will continue to live the celebrity turtle life in his tank at the library.
Be sure to make friends with Squirt on Facebook.
