Member Spotlight - Maria Fonseca-Gonzalez
August 11, 2025
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This week's ILA member spotlight features Maria Fonseca-Gonzalez. Maria is a librarian at NoveList, the premier database of reading recommendations that is available through libraries around the world.
Maria is a member of the 2025 ILA Conference Program Committee, the ILA Diversity Committee, and the ILA Marketing Forum.
We asked Maria to answer a few professional and amusing questions. Continue reading to find out more about Maria.
A little background on Maria
Maria Fonseca-Gonzalez is a librarian at NoveList, where she matches libraries with services that support their staff and connect with their community. Maria also uses her decade of public library experience working with various Illinois Library Association committees, along with the Horror Writers Association’s Library Advisory Council.
How did you get your start in libraries?
I was a student worker at Westwood College and was given a choice to work at the library. There I met a life-long friend (looking at you Liz!), who introduced me to the library field. I really enjoyed helping students find books, locate resources for assignments and demonstrating how to utilize the library’s digital e-resources. The library field was not my first choice but after a little self-reflection, I realized that it was where I wanted to be—looking back, I wish it was my first choice!
Best Advice you've received since starting your career in libraries?
It’s probably been said many times before, but networking. At the start of my career, I was very much in my own little librarian bubble and did not know about the different ILA committees or groups I could join at ALA. You are your own best advocate and cheerleader! It does make a difference taking part in different forums and committees for personal and professional growth—you learn so much.
Any advice to newcomers working in libraries?
Take your time to get to know your library, learn what resources and programs it provides for the community and what resources you can use to help you with your day-to-day tasks. Learn to be comfortable with not knowing it all, because it is impossible to be an expert in every genre, subject or tech issue that will come your way. Be transparent with what you know and don’t hesitate to ask for help.
When and why did you become a member of ILA?
I became a member of ILA last year, so I am still new, but I have had a great time on the different committees and forums I have joined. Taking part in these groups is exactly why I joined ILA; I wanted to become more involved in the conversation and use my knowledge and expertise to help with brainstorming new ideas for conferences, putting together presentations on trending topics, and much more. Most importantly, I have met so many great professionals in the field that are so savvy and bring so much knowledge to the table.
How has being a member of ILA helped you professionally?
Becoming a member has motivated me to be more involved in the different ILA committees and forums, which has in turn allowed me to learn more about how ILA operates and supports the libraries in our state, while also showing me how I can get involved and be more impactful in our field.
What is your proudest professional moment to date?
When the shutdown happened, we were two months away from hosting our second fanfest at the library. Being stuck at home and being a person who doesn’t like to be told that I can’t do something, I switched gears and went all virtual. I have to say a huge THANK YOU to all the creators I have met at comic conventions while selling my husband’s art over the years—they showed up to host panels, have discussions on inclusivity in cosplaying, getting into indie publishing, becoming a writer, hosting drawing tutorials and more.
It was a huge success and during a time when things were so unknown, it was rewarding to give our patrons something fun and engaging to do. I’m also a librarian who loves data and our metrics for this virtual event were insane—never had I thought it was going to be that successful!
Hardcover, paperback, e-reader, audiobook, or all?
I can do everything but audiobook! My brain just does NOT pay attention to someone reading to me unless it has all the bells and whistles with sound effects, full cast and the lead is being read by someone amazing like Tim Curry! Even then the struggle bus to listen to an audiobook is very real!
Favorite authors?
I am very stuck in my genre of horror, but I have enjoyed the recent works of Stephen Graham Jones, Gus Moreno, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Joe Hill and of course I love my Anne Rice and Stephen King!
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what five books would you want with you to pass the time until being rescued?
Hmmm... I am going to cheat here because I take books and video games where ever I go so if I was stuck on a deserted island I know I would have a combination of those items. For books, I would say “Interview with the Vampire”, “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” and “IT”. For video games, I would say Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy 7, video games are very much interactive novels and need to be appreciated not only the art, but also character development and storylines!
Cat or Dog?
I’m going to be that person and not choose one over the other because I love them both!
Favorite film, podcast, or television show?
I don’t really listen to podcasts dedicatedly, but if a movie and tv series could describe the essence of my existence it would be “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “The X-Files”.
One person you would like to meet, dead or alive why?
My go-to answer has always been Freddy Mercury from Queen. I play a few different instruments and would have loved to have had a jam session with him. Also, if the Doctor Who TARDIS was a real thing, I would have loved to have gone back to their Live AID concert and be in the crowd clapping along to Radio GaGa! They had one of the greatest sets ever performed in music history!
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