Here’s a real undersea view. See the Silver Dollar grey chromium fish in front and the eight-year-old Goldfish at upper left? Then notice the small red and yellow fish swimming near the surface.They are called Glofish Tetras. Everybody’s at peace at t
This is volunteer David Watts who is helping stock books at the Atlanta Public Library’s undersea room. Notice the Beatles and their Yellow Submarine world at the upper left.
Kendra Harrell,librarian and aquarium keeper, says smaller town libraries often are more creative and have unique areas such as Atlanta’s undersea world.
Here’s a new addition to the undersea world at Atlanta Public Library. This is a teaching poster on how to have an aquarium and care for goldfish. With just a little viewing, one can learn how a fish tank works.
Even the decorations are life-like in Atlanta Library’s undersea world.
Atlanta Library Fish
Citizens wanting to show off Atlanta might take their guests to the town’s public library to see the eight-year-old Goldfish who’s as big as a small perch. He’ll be swimming in the 100-gallon aquarium next to the undersea room which is the library’s basement.
“Nemo,” you might be encouraged to call the gold and white fish of the Goldfish species, as many children do when they stop and see him. But librarian and aquarium keeper Kendra Harrell says he has a name. He’s Grandpa Koi and a distinguished resident.
Then, as you pause, you’ll begin to play a game. What fish will hide from you and which will glide out to see you? One of the most impressive residents to see will be one of the seven Silver Dollars which are equally as big as Nemo. They are just grey chromium and not as colorful. They swim like a silent submarine.
Here’s a bit more about the Silver Dollar fish. This is a peaceful schooling fish that spends most of its time in the mid to upper-level part of the water. Its average life span is 10 years.
The interesting thing to note is that these bigger fish were once tiny. Now they are big in appearance, thanks to the care they receive from Librarian Harrell who treats the residents of the aquarium as if they were her children. She knows them well.
A number of the small Corydoras catfish may be seen. They are dark brown with yellow spots and timid. They like to be left alone. There are numerous Glofish Tetras, too, who are glowing a bright gold and red.
The two aquariums are part of Atlanta Library’s emphasis on having live things as well as paper, video and audio items. Recently, the library began a community garden in which seeds will be collected and planted and even checked out to library members for growing and producing of even more seed.
One of the two aquarium tanks is in the area of the undersea room of the library which is worth visiting. It is another world and would be impressive for any town or library.
The undersea world here is more than just painting on walls. First, you have to descend steep steps to get here. It is like going down into a ship. It’s also a little humid here because there is an underground spring gurgling under the building.
On the watery walls are Greek legendary heroes, English rock star musicians and scientific underwater laboratories as well as plenty of seaweed.
The undersea painting is the work of local artist Daniel Griekspoor who helped the library win an award for this room in 2006. It took him eight months along with occasional help, especially from the then librarian, the late Jackie Icenhower.
Griekspoor is now retired from the Atlanta District of the Texas Department of Highways where he designed illustrations for training manuals used throughout the state. Of his volunteer work for the library, he said simply, “It was not only fun but great therapy,”