How a tiny fish at a Houma library got a name and a new mission in life

Colin Campo, The Courier
·2 min read

After a week of voting, the ballots are in: Visitors have decided that the beta fish in the children's section of Houma's Main Library is now named "Bubbles."

Asked if he likes his new name, Bubbles was speechless.

"He's a happy little fish, living his best life at the library," librarian Emily Duplantis, 27, said after ballots were counted Tuesday.

Bubbles the beta swims in his aquarium on a shelf behind the desk Tuesday in the Houma Main Library's children's section.
Bubbles the beta swims in his aquarium on a shelf behind the desk Tuesday in the Houma Main Library's children's section.

The 2-month-old, red-and-blue fish is the mascot of the library's summer reading program, Oceans of Possibility.

Librarian Megan Hutchinson bought Bubbles because she had a fish named Dewey at Village East Elementary School's library, and the kids seemed to like him. Now 2 years old, Dewey can still be found swimming in his small aquarium there.

At the Main Library, six librarians each suggested a possible name, and 142 visitors cast ballots. Bubbles blew the competition out of the water, with 69 votes. The next closest was Neptune, with 28. Others were Fish, Jimin, PJ (Percy Jackson) and Aquaman.

Librarians Brooke Jones, 20 and Megan Hutchinson, 38, show off the fish crown Tuesday. The crown will go to Emily Daigle, the librarian who suggested the name Bubbles for the beta fish that serves as the summer reading program's mascot.
Librarians Brooke Jones, 20 and Megan Hutchinson, 38, show off the fish crown Tuesday. The crown will go to Emily Daigle, the librarian who suggested the name Bubbles for the beta fish that serves as the summer reading program's mascot.

Librarian Emily Daigle was set to be crowned with a colorful construction-paper fish hat Wednesday for submitting the name that got the most votes.

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Bubbles wasn't very active at first, said librarian Brooke Jones, 20, but he has adjusted to his little aquarium.

"He pouted the first couple of days, but now he swims around more," Jones said.

A ballot box displays photos of the librarians who suggested each possible name for the beta fish. Library visitors cast the most votes for Bubbles.
A ballot box displays photos of the librarians who suggested each possible name for the beta fish. Library visitors cast the most votes for Bubbles.

The summer program encourages participants to read 20 minutes a day five days a week. Readers receive a necklace and an entry into a raffle for each week they complete.

The prizes for kindergarten through sixth grade grade are a bicycle and helmet. Adults and teens each get a chance to win a swag bag. For adults, the bag includes socks, coffee mug, blankets and more. For teens the bag includes an oversized hoodie, water bottle, tablet stand, bookmark and more.

You can register for the program at any Terrebonne Parish public library or online at mytpl.org/srp/.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Houma library's new summer reading mascot is Bubbles the beta fish