By Jeff Kenney Citizen editor
The Culver-Union Twp. Public Library’s newest director has worked in the library field most of her professional career, though this is her first stint as director. But Colleen Carpenter, certified by the American Library Association with her Master’s in Library Science (and self-described “Conneticut Yankee” by birth) feels her “whole professional and community service career has prepared me for this (directing job). Looking back, I see what I did taught me so many things. I learned all the aspects of librarianship, and I was on a library board myself, so I was on the other side of the table also.”

Carpenter’s arrival in Culver seems Providential. Having moved to Indiana from New England last year, she intended to seek a job and home in the South Bend area but drove through Culver. “I drove down Lake Shore Drive and saw the lake…and went to the little park, and I just fell in love with it. I got an apartment here and a week later put in my application (at the Culver library). I started volunteering in January and got hired later on that month.”
As for the library’s future direction, Carpenter sees the nation’s current economic woes as an opportunity for the library to serve the public. “What a time for us to be in a library serving the local community’s needs for information and entertainment. We provide to the community a place to go. We have books, we have movies, we have music that they can take out for free with their Culver library card. We have magazine subscriptions and newspapers they can come read here. The internet: we’re here for those who don’t have it at home or their equipment is down.”
“We have the museum (the Center for Culver History) in the works, and we’re housing that in collaboration with the Antiquarian and Historical Society. That’s good for the entire community and will benefit it in the future…it’s very good that we house the museum. I’m excited about that.”
 “We have a very fine staff,” she adds, “who are very willing and anxious to serve the community.”
The library, Carpenter feels, can provide for the diverse elements of the area. “(Culver is) a very special place in a very good sense, and the library wants to meet the needs of our citizens, our taxpayers. It’s almost like an international community, but at the same time it’s a homespun community. It’s a lit bit of everything, in a nice way. It will continue to be that as it has over the years.”
Carpenter adds the library is here for everyone, not one particular group over another. And she hopes citizens will feel welcome to approach her. “My door is open,” she says. “If citizens have concerns, I’m happy to talk to anybody about our library services, whatever they might like to talk about. I’m here.”
“The Culver library is a vibrant, exciting place. Come to the library!”