Story

For the Love of Books and Bivalves

Sep 30, 2026 Valerie DiMarzio

Valerie DiMarzio/CBF Staff

Deale Library’s ‘Save the Bay’ storytime launched a unique partnership with CBF’s new Truman Oyster Center that will propel local oyster restoration in Maryland.

Corralling 20 toddlers is never easy. Especially if you’re trying to teach them about the benefits of oyster habitat in the Chesapeake Bay. Because unlike oysters, kids can move. A lot.

But Bridget Bloomer, branch manager for the Deale Library in south Anne Arundel County, Maryland, had no problem intriguing these rambunctious tots as she began their weekly storytime.

Young children actively participate in an interactive library storytime, dancing along to an ocean-themed rhyme displayed on screen while the storyteller leads the fun. — Deale Library Branch Manager Bridget Bloomer leads the children in a storytime song.

“Has anyone heard of Chadwick the crab?” Bloomer asked the group.

Lots of little hands shot up. “I love Chadwick,” one kid shouted. “That’s one of my favorites,” a softer voice rang.

Bloomer didn’t skip a beat and began reading Meet Chadwick and His Chesapeake Bay Friends—a popular children’s book, which, as you can guess, illustrates a blue crab meeting dozens of local critters that call the Bay home.

One notable friend of Chadwick’s is the oyster. Oyster reefs create critical habitats that Chadwick and his fish friends need to survive. Oysters are also what inspired today’s special ‘Save the Bay’ storytime event.

Bridget Bloomer talks about ‘Save the Bay’ storytime and the library’s new CBF oyster shell recycling bin. Video credit Valerie DiMarzio/CBF Staff.

A Community Connector

In addition to storytime, the Deale Library was celebrating a new oyster shell recycling bin that the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) installed in their parking lot. Here, residents and restaurants will be able to drop off their empty oyster shells after a feast. CBF will then use those shells for future oyster restoration efforts. CBF shell recycling bins are scattered throughout Maryland, but this is the first one in Deale.

There to help celebrate the new partnership was CBF’s Maryland Oyster Restoration Specialist Kellie Fiala. Her job does not usually entail reading books to children. Although her two young sons might disagree.

Two smiling women cut the ceremonial ribbon to celebrate the opening of a new Chesapeake Bay Foundation oyster shell recycling station. — Bridget Bloomer (left) and Kellie Fiala (right) cut the ribbon on a new oyster shell recycling bin at the library.

Children gather around a wire cage with the sign Save Oyster Shells as one little boy drops an oyster shell in. — After storytime, the children help add the first shells to the new oyster shell recycling bin.

Most days, Kellie is out in the field or on the water working to restore oyster reefs. So, when the Deale Library reached out wanting to help with that mission, she couldn’t have been more excited.

“They saw the news about us buying our new oyster restoration center nearby in Galesville,” Fiala said. “They reached out and asked how they could help. It was so great!”

That new center, known as the Truman T. Semans Center for Oyster Restoration and Innovation, will be a space where volunteers, partners, and neighbors can come and engage in CBF’s oyster restoration. That includes building reef balls, installing cages, and helping grow baby oysters that will be added back into the Bay. The Galesville site is currently under construction and expected to begin oyster operations in spring 2027.

For the Love of Books and Bivalves

A Community Connector

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