Meet Our Newest Giraffe: Mosi!

The staff at HPL is proud to introduce Mosi – HPL’s new mascot, courtesy of the Friends of Hedberg Public Library!

In Swahili, the official language of Kenya, Mosi (pronounced mo’-see), means “patient, responsible, loves his family and home.”

Mosi arrived on Saturday, April 19 to join his giraffe family in the Children's Room. See if you can "spot" him at an upcoming library program!.

About the HPL Giraffes
Jamila and her calf, Spotty, were purchased in 2004 with funds donated by Jevne and Trish Arreazola as a memorial to their daughter Kaly.

The 8’4” tall mother giraffe arrived on October 29, 2004, after travelling all the way from the Steiff company in Giengen, Germany. HPL staff held a naming contest shortly after her arrival. Twenty-three names were submitted and Youth Services staff chose from the top two vote-getters: Heddy and Jamila. The winning name, Jamila, was suggested by Jamie Swenson and means “beautiful” in Swahili, Somali and Arabic.

The 5’ tall baby giraffe arrived on December 28, 2004. In February 2005, Youth Services held a “Name-the-Baby Contest” to allow the kids at HPL to choose a name. After receiving more than 400 ideas, Spotty was the ultimate choice, having been submitted by 13 children.