A Little Shark Bait to Hook Readers : El Segundo: Library hopes the four baby marine visitors will help draw children to its resources.

Librarians will go to great depths to get kids to read.

Just ask Barbara Pearson. She is the person largely responsible for the presence of four baby leopard sharks currently swimming at the El Segundo Public Library.

The marine animals have become a star attraction at the library, which is growing a coral reef in the custom 240-gallon tank that was recently installed in the Young People’s section.

Pearson decided to buy the aquarium to enhance the learning environment at the library. She said she hoped to spur interest among local schools to use the reef for science projects.

“The main purpose of the library is still to stimulate interest in reading,” Pearson said. “But the children really like it, and if it draws more of them into the library, that’s fine.”

Sindee Pickens, a senior library assistant, said the project has lured hundreds of children to the site. The most popular time is when library workers feed the sharks their thrice-weekly diet of frozen krill--a type of shrimp--triggering a frenzy inside and outside the tank.

“The kids really get a kick out of it, and it reinforces the library as a positive place for children,” Pickens said.

The fish have apparently hooked library officials as well. At Tuesday’s afternoon feeding, Pickens wore a blouse adorned with dozens of multicolored fish.

Pearson said the idea for the aquarium came from other libraries that have installed similar displays. The specially designed $6,000 tank was bought through a fund-raising campaign and with donations from the Friends of the El Segundo Public Library.

The sharks were loaned to the library by Jim Bellissimo, owner of Jim’s Exotic Fish of Westchester. Bellissimo suggested the predators because they introduce a lot of decomposing waste material into the tank that helps establish friendly bacteria to aid growth of the coral reef. He said the sharks were also good because they would “generate the most possible attention from the kids in the shortest amount of time.”

The leopard sharks, which were caught in Santa Monica Bay, will be replaced later this year by a stingray, an eel, yellow tangs, turbo snails and schools of tropical fish.

Young visitors say the shark-infested aquarium has attracted them to the library.

“It’s pretty cool,” concluded Ryan Smith, 13. “I’ve come to see them a couple of times. My friends and I like to watch them, and it makes it more fun to read about them when you can see them.”

“I really like to watch them eat,” said 9-year-old Jeffrey Knoche. “But I would probably come here after school anyway.”

The reef is open to the public for viewing during regular library hours Monday through Saturday. The feedings are held at 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday. The library is at 111 W. Mariposa Ave.

Pearson said aquariums and other educational displays will probably be used more frequently by libraries to generate enthusiasm for education.

“Anything that helps to create an environment conducive to learning is good,” she said. “We want to pique their curiosity. And the fact that the kids really love it is great.”

The Leopard Shark

Size: 5-6 feet at maturity

Coloring: Upper surface has black spots and short crossbars on light gray background

Habitat: Pacific coast of North America, particularly California bays

Food: Mostly small crabs, shrimp and fish

Threat to people: Generally not dangerous, although they have many small sharp teeth and will bite if annoyed

Special qualities: Tolerant of aquarium conditions

SOURCE: Encyclopedia Americana