Editor’s note: The Daily Reporter will feature our “Neighbors” regularly, whether it be someone with an interesting hobby or profession, or a nonprofit group making a difference in our community. Here, Ashtan Bennett shares about being director of the Vernon Township Public Library, having taken the position in January. The library is located in Fortville and serves Vernon Township, including McCordsville.
Daily Reporter: What are your primary duties as director?
Ashtan Bennett: I am responsible for the library’s strategic vision, goals, and operations. I prepare and oversee the budget, develop employment and service policies, focus on future planning, plan and schedule programming and outreach, and much more. In a public library this size of VTPL, the director gets to wear many hats and I love each aspect of the position!
DR: You came from the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville, with experience in finishing the new Whitestown branch location to their system. Why did you want to come to Vernon Township?
AB: Working in Zionsville and commuting from Muncie was taking up much of my time, but I didn’t want to move too far away from family, so I began searching for opportunities that were closer to home. A mentor of mine sent me the job posting and when I read it, I knew I wanted to apply. This opportunity provided everything that makes me passionate about librarianship, including the opportunity to meet needs in a growing community, lead a wonderful team, and expand services focusing on innovation and outreach.
DR: Do you have a few short-term goals you’d like to accomplish in your first year?
AB: My goals for this year have been focused on learning and embedding myself into the Vernon Township community. We have wonderful opportunities to be outside the library’s physical location and meet the community in different places. Learning about how the community uses the library now and what they want for the future is extremely important as we look at future initiatives. I have also been focusing on growing and building relationships with other community partners, local businesses, local organizations, and local leaders.
DR: What about long-term goals?
AB: Long-term goals focus on adapting our services and resources to fit the ever-changing need of our community’s demographics, as well as increasing the number of programs that we offer. We are also focused on expanding our reach to residents who do not currently use the library, as well as new residents moving to Vernon Township.
DR: Can you provide a status of the library’s possible new location?
AB: At this time, we are in the process of getting approval for a portion of our funding to expand services. Unfortunately, we don’t have a concrete timeline as there are many pieces that must come together. Public library funding must go to our fiscal body and the Department of Local Government finance for approvals. We won’t be notified until December about our final approval from the DLGF. We are also working on plan to predict our space needs for the next 5-20 years based off of growth predictions for Vernon Township.
DR: What is something that has been surprising as you’ve taken on your new position?
AB: Something that has surprised me is the large number of transits we facilitate! As part of the Evergreen Indiana Library Consortium, VTPL card holders have access to books and materials from more than 120 other Indiana libraries that are part of the consortium and we have thousands of items transited to VTPL for our card holders annually.
DR: What’s your favorite book?
AB: “Her Fearful Symmetry” by Audrey Niffenegger
DR: What makes the Vernon Township Public Library unique?
AB: Vernon Township Public Library is unique in that our location is at the corner of three different counties. We have reciprocal borrowing agreements with the Hancock County Public Library and Pendleton Community Public Library, meaning that if they have library card from those libraries, they can get one at VTPL so that we can provide services to those living close to our location, but aren’t Vernon Township residents. Additionally, we provide one of the lowest non-resident library card costs in the state ($35) and we have many Fishers and Indianapolis area residents that choose to purchase a card. We get tons of compliments about the welcoming and cozy feel of our library! We love hosting unique programs, attending community events, and bringing awareness to all aspects of the library.
DR: Anything else you’d like to share with the community?
AB: Whenever I have the opportunity, I like to encourage everyone to visit their local library! If you aren’t a regular library user, you might be surprised all at the amazing services, resources, and programs that public libraries have to offer! Public libraries are working to fill in gaps in their communities in unique ways and we are so much more than a building with books!
For more on the library, visit vtpl.lib.in.us. To suggest a person to be featured in our “Neighbors” section, email [email protected].
