Artist, muralist, illustrator, and picturebook author Kevin Luthardt gave the Youth Services Storytime Room a brand new look. He covered the walls with a colorful large-scale mural. The underwater scene features a magical variety of fish, animals, children, and plants. On Monday, July 12, 2004, the magical scene was unveiled to the Des Plaines community at a festive reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The mural and reception were funded by a generous donation from the Friends of the Library.

Luthardt, who once worked in the Youth Services Department, has created murals for a number of schools and other institutions in the Chicago metropolitan area. He is the author and illustrator of the picture books, Mine!, Peep!, and Larabee. Three more books featuring his work were scheduled for publication during 2004/2005.