Spotlight Series: Tosca Gonsalves

Through her professional career, a deep love for knowledge and service has guided Tosca Gonsalves, E-Resources Librarian at Palo Alto College. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and a master’s in Spanish, Tosca’s journey took her abroad to Colombia, where she began teaching English while navigating the challenge of her degrees not being transferred. Eventually, she and her husband moved back to the United States so he could pursue his PhD, and it was during this time that Tosca decided to follow her curiosity into library science.

“I loved research and books,” she says, “which any librarian would tell you is not a good enough reason to study library science, but I did it anyway, and I found my passion in it.”

That passion led her first to the public library system, where she gained valuable hands-on experience. After a period as a stay-at-home mom, she slowly re-entered the field by volunteering in a school library. When Tosca and her family settled back in the States, she landed her position at Palo Alto College, and she’s been here ever since.

This September marks Tosca’s 14th year at PAC. In her role, she wears many hats: overseeing technical services like eBook platforms and streaming resources such as Kanopy, managing the library’s materials budget, supporting faculty in identifying subject-specific resources as part of the curriculum committee, and leading information literacy classes for English courses both online and in-person.

“There’s so much more to being a librarian than most people realize,” Tosca shares. She also works directly with students through the reference desk, online chat, and Book-a-Librarian appointments, and she frequently collaborates with faculty and other departments across campus. 

At the root of Tosca’s work is a strong investment in helping more students, faculty, and staff alike realize just how expansive the library’s resources are. Tosca is especially proud of the San Antonio Poetry Archives and PAC’s own archives, both housed within the library, as well as the children’s library for parenting students.  “There are a fair amount of hidden gems in our library,” she says. “It would be nice if people were more aware that all they have to do is ask, and we do our best to help them.”

Beyond academics, Tosca loves the human moments that happen in the library—like when students or colleagues stop to leave a note of thanks. “It warms our hearts and motivates us in the day-to-day chaos,” she says, noting that the team has started collecting these appreciation notes as reminders of the impact they have. 

As Tosca looks ahead, she hopes to continue building a library experience that is responsive, inclusive, and accessible, even beyond regular hours. “I want the library to always have something to offer, no matter who you are or where you are on your journey.”

Tosca Gonsalves is an example of the spirit and talent that defines Palo Alto College, one of collaboration, community, and an unwavering commitment to student success. Her story reminds us that libraries and the people behind them are more vital than ever.