A boy pets the box turtle from the Blank Park Zoo at the Washington Public Library. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Four-legged creatures were on display Thursday at the Washington Public Library and a room of children eagerly awaited the event. Children’s librarian Jolisa Weidner asked, “Why did you come to the library today?” And a the chorus of children responded, “To see the animals!” The Blank Park Zoo of Des Moines visited and zoo staff gave an educational presentation about a variety of animals from cheetahs to elephants and then showed a box turtle and a cane toad, among others. The zoo event was part of the library’s continued summer learning series.