Charles Benson, b. 1946

Track 1: Background in Co. Dublin. Entered Trinity College Dublin in the 1960s, studying Humanities. Track 2: In London for a short time, returning to Trinity as one of the first groups of trainee graduates in the Library. Moved to Queen’s University Belfast Library in 1969, then returned to a new post in Trinity Library, with responsibility for Early Printed Books. Background to the history of his Department. Reflects with regret on Trinity’s lost opportunities during this time of acquiring the private libraries of several Great Houses. Track 3: Memories of working with Ms. Mary (Paul) Pollard, “the driving force” of Trinity Library. Track 4: Recollections of attending book auctions and cataloguing rare books in Trinity Library. His increasing certainty, over time, of the national and international importance of the books in Trinity Library. Track 5: The complexities of managing Trinity Library within the College system. His current interests since retirement in 2010.