Hermit Crabs Hide Out at the Perry Hall Library

The Spencer Public Library in Iowa is famous for housing Dewey, the library cat.

But, it turns out, the  keeps a few animals of its own—five hermit crabs. 

“[They] encourage people to be lifelong library users," said library Manager Darcy Cahill. 

Near the children’s service desk rests the clawed crustaceans' plastic home, where patrons often ask about their origin. 

“Our summer reading club theme last year was about water, so our summer reading team decided that it would be fun to have some hermit crabs," Cahill said. 

But when the reading club came to an end, the crabs stayed. 

“It’s fun for the kids each time they visit the library to come and visit the hermit crabs. It has become something that they look forward to," Cahill said. "Many of our families come once a week and the first thing the kids do is make a beeline for this desk.” 

In spite of their popularity, however, the crabs are without official, or consistent, names, said librarian Andrea Shore.

“Last summer, the summer reading club volunteers gave them names [but] it depended on which kids were there. They would all have different names,” Shore said. 

Hannah Shiner, 9, said she doesn't worry much about the crabs' names, although she visits them every time she goes to the library. 

“I like their shells,” she said. “My favorite is the big one.”

Shore aptly calls that one Mr. Big, a hermit crab with a large white shell and an equally large personality. “This is the most friendly guy and he’s usually the most active," she said.  

This year’s summer reading theme, "One World, Many Stories," may not have as much to do with hermit crabs. But co-leaders Julie Presley and Jennifer Riley said the crabs are still helping to promote the program. 

“They’re very low maintenance, very easy and lots of fun,” Presley said.