Carl Bengston

After high school I went to college and finally graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in Comparative Literature (pretty useless, huh?).

I started working in college libraries right out of high school to help pay my expenses and just kept it up. In fact, I've never worked at any other job! I got a Masters in Librarianship from the University of Oregon in Eugene, worked at some more libraries as a librarian, and finally ended up here in Turlock at CSU Stanislaus, where I've been Dean of Library Services (read Head Librarian) for the last couple of years. Along the way I worked at Cal Tech, UC Berkeley, Dominican College of San Rafael, and for a national library automation consortium in Indiana and southern California. I also managed to pick up a MBA a couple of years ago, which was great fun, and which has helped me advance to the upper echelons of higher ed. Administration.

My wife, Adair (also a librarian), and I have two daughters: Lana, almost 11, and Erica, almost 8. I figure I might be able to retire in 10 or 15 years! And I have a 22 year-old daughter (Ruby) from my first marriage, who lives and works in Stockton. No grandchildren yet, and probably none in the near future, but I'll be ready if they ever materialize -- I love kids. I still enjoy singing and acting, although I haven't done much lately because of demanding young children, domestic duties, responsibilities at work, old age, and general fatigue! All in all, however, I think my life has been truly blessed - there is little more I could hope or ask for.

Well, that's pretty much it. I haven't kept in touch with too many of my high school friends, but those I have are dearer and dearer (especially when I think about those who have already passed on). So I'd love to reconnect with anyone who is so inclined, virtually or face to face right here in Turlock. I love e-mail and I'm basically easy to find; my door (virtual, office or home) is always open.

Carl