By Jeff Kenney Staff Writer
CULVER — The Culver-Union Township Public Library board discussed several items at October meeting, approving its revised personnel policy in the process.
Among changes in that policy were limits placed on the library’s charge accounts and credit card usage at retail venues. “Because of what we ran into in the past, I don’t feel comfortable saying, ‘Go ahead and spend $500 at Lowe’s because we have an account there,” said board member Carol Saft.

Board member Melanie Robertson, a member of the personnel policy committee, noted such situations are taken into account in the new policy. Saft also said there should be one credit card for use in the library kept in the director’s office and not in the wallets of staff members. It was noted no staff member may spend more than $50 towards library purchases without the approval of the librarian, who herself may spend up to $500 at her discretion.
Also discussed were the library’s policies on childcare and behavior. Some parents drop off children at the library without adult supervision, a matter add-ressed in the new library policy, which clarifies parents are responsible for their children even when not with them in the building.
In other discussion, library director Colleen McCarty said a debt collection agency, Unique Man-agement Services, is being considered to handle overdue fees and materials for the library. Noting the company uses the “gentle nudge approach” which emphasizes return of mat-erials first and foremost, McCarty said a telephone conference with the group is possible at the n ext board meeting. She recommended contracting with the company, which she said takes a small percentage of overdue fees collection in exchange for its services.
Nov. 5 is the “go live” date for the library’s transition from its existing cataloging and circulation system to the Indiana State Library-sponsored Ever-green, which takes advantage of a markedly more sophisticated software plat-form and consortium of participating libraries around the state, said McCarty. The move will enhance Culver patrons’ options in items and services available.
McCarty also updated the board on several recent goings-on at the library, including attendance by five CUTPL staff members of an Indiana State Library conference in Fort Wayne October 19, a luncheon honoring library staff Oct. 21 by the Friends of the Library organization, and the success of a program on gangs and drugs recently sponsored also by the Friends.
Dr. Christopher Wheatley, Ordinary Professor of English and Director of Undergraduate Studies   at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. will be on hand Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m., noted McCarty, for the closing of the library’s multi-week “The Big Read” community program.
Winners of the “Big Read” photo and essay contests will also be announced at the event, which will feature live music by Jan and the Left Hand Rockers band. “The Big Read” focused on two literary classics by Thornton Wilder and brought together a variety of community organizations and individuals to encourage reading and dialog centered around Wilder’s works. The Culver Community High School will also perform Wilder’s “Our Town” onstage Oct.29, 31, and Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. each day, added McCarty, as part of “The Big Read.”
A free energy audit will take place November 10 to examine the library’s HVAC system, lighting, utility bills, square footage, and windows, McCarty said. Kurt Stevens will conduct the audit, which is aimed at making the library more energy efficient and cost effective in its regular operations.