UP CLOSE -- Mary-Pat Gonzalez

* FAMILY STATUS: Married 26 years with three children -- two boys, ages

25 and 22; and one daughter, age 19

* AGE: 48

* EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in English from Mount St. Mary’s College

in Los Angeles; teaching credential from UCI; library media credential

and master’s degree in library science from San Jose State University

* PRESENT OCCUPATION: Children’s librarian

* EXPLAIN YOUR JOB IN 15 WORDS OR FEWER: Read to about 300 children a

week, answer lots of homework questions, plan fun programs to inspire

kids to read, work to keep library books and computers up to date.

Fifteen words or less cannot begin to describe all I do!

* YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: I consider my marriage of 26 years and my

three wonderful children to be my greatest achievement!

* PERSONAL MOTTO: I got this from “Mary Poppins”: “In every job that must

be done, there is an element of fun!”

* MOST HUMBLING MOMENT: Performing with the Rancho Santiago Master

Chorale at Carnegie Hall in December 1998

* MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOK YOU’VE READ: “Little Women,” by Louisa May Alcott

* WHAT CASSETTE OR COMPACT DISC IS IN YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW? None. I usually

listen to National Public Radio or the jazz station.

* YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: My home

* WHAT CAN YOU COOK? Every Christmas, I have my whole family over and we

make the best tamales!

* A HABIT YOU WISH YOU COULD CONTROL: I have trouble sitting still. I’d

like to be more mellow.

* THE COLLEGE MAJOR YOU ALMOST CHOSE: Drama

* WHAT IS IN YOUR CAR TRUNK RIGHT NOW? Jumper cables and a few books I

plan to donate to the library book sale.

* THE FIRST THING THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO YOUR SPOUSE? Dan has a fun sense

of humor and the cutest dimple.

* THE WORST IDEA YOU EVER HAD: I won’t admit having a bad idea. I try to

turn it into a good one before anyone notices.

* WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN VOTED IN HIGH SCHOOL: Most cheerful

* WHO ARE YOUR HEROES? My mother and my grandmothers epitomize strong,

self-confident women whom I try to emulate.

* FAVORITE ESCAPE FROM REALITY: Curling up with a good book

* ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD IF YOU COULD: It may sound

trite, but I just wish we could all just get along.

* YOUR IDEA OF EXERCISE: I love my morning walks with my friend, Betty.

* PHONE OR ADDRESS WHERE PEOPLE CAN REACH YOU: Huntington Beach Central

Library, 7111 Talbert Ave.