Hughesville Area Public Library staff and patrons recently gathered at a local stream to release over 100 rainbow trout hatchlings.

“Children, decked out in colorful creek shoes and waders, eagerly lined up to receive a fish in a plastic cup and hurried into the water, where they let the fish go one-by-one and watched them swim upstream,” a news release said.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the community come together with a shared interest–watching our trout go from eggs to fingerlings ready for release!” said Penny Johnson, HAPL Director, according to the news release.

The trout arrived at the library in February as eggs. They hatched in March and have been steadily growing in the library’s 55-gallon tank. The program, called “Trout in the Library,” has been a collaborative effort between HAPL, Susquehanna Trout Unlimited, and the Consolidated Sportsmen of Muncy Creeks, and it was featured in the 2025 Pennsylvania Summer Library Program Showcase.

On release day, participants met at the library and boarded two River Valley Transit buses that took them to the creek. There, they released the trout directly into the stream, conducted a creek study with Carey Entz of the Lycoming County Conservation District, and learned about fly fishing from students in the East Lycoming School District’s Fly Fishing Club.

“We plan to continue this program as long as we can,” said Johnson. “It draws individuals to the library that would not normally think about coming in, and it inspires kids to get outdoors.”

The Hughesville Area Public Library, located at 146 S. 5th St., Hughesville, connects people with information to encourage a lifetime of learning. Since its creation in 1940, HAPL has grown to meet the recreational, creative, educational, and technological needs of the community.