Garin Gonzales graduated from University of Oregon in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He worked as an assistant editor for TV HOST Magazine and other magazines before moving on to working as a copywriter for a large retailer in Portland, Oregon. (No, advertising is decidedly NOT like the TV show Mad Men.) After being laid off from that job and interviewing for advertising jobs he was less than excited about, he decided to go back to school to earn his MLS. While attending school, Garin worked part-time as a wedding DJ. He graduated from Emporia State College In 2007.

In 2008 he relocated to the central valley in California, and took a job as a reference librarian at the Madera County library in Madera, California. In 2011, he became the manager of the Madera Ranchos library, which is part of the San Joaquin Library system.  Garin is excited for the Eureka Institute conference because he is always looking for ways to sharpen his skills as a librarian. He also looks forward to meeting librarian colleagues from around California and discussing new trends and challenges in librarianship. In his spare time he likes seeing live music, enjoys a good movie and loves a good book. He lives in Fresno, California.