You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Close
Search
Join TLA
All News

Between the Lines: July Member Spotlight

Between the Lines: Member Spotlight, TLA News
Share:

Theresa Tongio Holden

Reference Librarian, West Pearland Library

Brazoria County Library System

 

What inspired you to become a librarian?
I have been a reader loving books since I was four years old. My wonderful mom would take me to the library and bookstores when I was a little girl in Chicago.  I started working in a library as an adult and discovered how great my colleagues, the volunteers, the Friends, and the people of the community were. It was fun and inspiring. It still is.

What is an innovative practice at your library/organization (current or former) that you’d like to share with others?
Brazoria County Library System hosts BrazCon -a Teen Comic Convention which is a celebration of graphic novels, comics, manga, and pop culture.

If you could have dinner with three authors (living or dead), who would they be and why?  
1. P.D. Eastman and Dr. Seuss, who wrote the first books I ever read and loved: Go Dog Go, Are You My Mother and Green Eggs and Ham. I’d like to say thank you and ask them to autograph and illustrate my books.

2.  Yangsze Choo (The Ghost Bride.) Her books are beautiful and unforgettable

3. Grace D. Li-she is the newly published author of Portrait of a Thief from Pearland, Texas who visited our library when she was growing up here. Her mom came by to tell us the great news, and to thank the library. We’re very proud of her. Libraries do transform!

What are you reading right now?
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison;  The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu – I wanted to read more fantasy and science fiction genre books because part of my job is readers advisory; Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker (which is the current Book Club book for my library); and The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley because I love mysteries. I have 26 print books and 5 electronic books checked out to me right now. I manage to listen to a lot of books on my commute to work. I’ve found I love all genres.

What is your most memorable Texas Library Association Experience?
Singing the Reading Rainbow theme song with LeVar Burton and an entire giant room filled with librarian fans. I will never forget that. It was magic. Thank you TLA!

Anything else you would like to share?

1. I was born in Manila, the Republic of the Philippines.

2.  I have an antique card catalog cabinet. It’s currently holding my Apple accessories-I thought it was fitting. Libraries bridge the digital divide.

3. Please read Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. It’s about us.

4. I am grateful to work with a truly lovely group of people in a brand new library. Visit us when you can at 11801 Shadow Creek Parkway, Pearland, Texas! Thank you City of Pearland and Brazoria County! ❤

“I am a TLA member because…” I want to support my professional organization, and keep learning and contributing.