Written by Anne Hennen Barber, edited by Olivia Bungum
Libraries are more than shelves of books. They are places where curiosity is encouraged, questions are welcomed, and young readers begin to discover who they are.
Every so often, a patron comes along who truly embodies the spirit of the library and reminds us why these spaces matter.
Marco is one of those individuals. Someone whose presence consistently reflects a genuine love of learning and community.
Marco Heredia, 12, took over care of the library aquarium in December 2024. Morris Public Library Director Anne Hennen Barber first noticed Marco’s interest in fish and aquarium life because of the enthusiasm he showed when checking out books on the subject. This enthusiasm, Barber said, rivals the excitement some kids reserve for Dog Man.
His passion was evident, not just in what he read, but in the thoughtful questions he asked and the care he showed for living things.
So, when Marco asked if the library needed help with its aquarium, Barber knew he was the right person for the job.
Marco stayed on top of cleaning the tank every week and even used his own money to buy fish, keeping the aquarium populated and lively. “We truly couldn’t have asked for a better volunteer,” Barber said.
This past October, Marco asked if he could remove the plastic plants in the tank and replace them with live plants. Barber told him that as long as he did the research to ensure it was done properly and that the fish would be safe, she was happy to approve it.
He explained that one reason for removing the plastic plants was that they could potentially cut the fish.
While Marco already knew quite a bit about fish habitats, he continued researching to
ensure the aquarium would be a safe and healthy environment.
About a week later, as Barber was leaving the library at the end of the workday, she found myself walking toward the door with Marco. As they chatted, he asked, “Can I show you something quick? It’s on my Chromebook.”
The pair sat down, and he pulled up a PowerPoint presentation he had created to share his research on live plants.
As Barber listened to Marco take her through his slides, library staff Meredith and Karin watched through the window of the library workroom. All three incredibly impressed and excited by Marco’s work, Barber said.
Later, Barber shared some of Marco’s research with the Friends of the Morris Public Library at their annual meeting.
The Friends were equally impressed. One member, who is a UMM professor, commented that Marco’s presentation was better than many of the presentations he had seen in his classroom that day.
Another member shared later that she had told Marco’s story multiple times to her coworkers.
In his presentation, Marco estimated that he would need $40.00 to add live plants to the aquarium.
The Friends of the Library immediately wrote a check to make it happen.
“Young Marco embodies what makes a wonderful library patron. He is curious, respectful, and genuinely engaged with our library community,” Barber wrote. “Marco thoughtfully uses library resources, eagerly participates in programs, and never hesitates to ask librarians for help.”
Through these interactions, library staff have had the pleasure of getting to know him as a person, Barber added, especially as we work together to discover books that spark his interests and love of reading.
The Friends of the Morris Public Library is a nonprofit group that supports the library beyond what regular funding can cover.
Donations help pay for things like
-Children, adult and teen programs
-Author visits, workshops, and community events
-Technology and learning resources
-Special projects that make the library more welcoming and useful for everyone
