FORTVILLE — The new leader of the Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library comes with volumes of experience, according to those who chose her for the role.
Karyn Millikan started in October as director of the library, which is at 625 E. Broadway St., Fortville.
Millikan, who holds a master of library science degree from Indiana University, had been heading adult services at the Westfield Washington Public Library for about a year and a half. She also worked at the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library and Tipton County Public Library for six years each, holding positions including children’s librarian in Kokomo and youth services head, branch manager and collection manager in Tipton.
Before pursuing her master’s degree, she was a circulation clerk at Hamilton East Public Library in Fishers.
“Since I started out as a children’s librarian, I’ve been very passionate about early literacy, getting children to read, getting books in their hands, helping parents with reading to their children and those kinds of things to create a love of reading that will hopefully carry out through someone’s life,” Millikan said.
Millikan called libraries assets to their communities, and not just for books. She said libraries also offer an array of other forms of media, computer and internet access, meeting space and classes.
They’re places where people can come in just to warm up and read a newspaper, she continued.
“It’s one of the last places the public can go and not have to pay for anything,” she said.
People often visit libraries with questions about local resources, Millikan said, and if libraries can’t answer them, they’re usually able to point to who can.
“By being connected in the community with other agencies and services, we can help people get what they need,” she said.
Millikan grew up in Anderson and lives in Noblesville, so she’s familiar with the area she now serves.
“It’s a growing community, and I see that as a challenge and an opportunity to take the library on to something much more than it currently is,” she said.
Millikan said she’d like to see the library have more classes on topics like computers; science, technology, engineering and math — often shortened to STEM; and 3-D printing. She’s also looking forward to carrying out goals outlined in the library’s strategic plan that have to do with improving engagement both online and in the community.
Millikan succeeds Kirsten Edwards, who started at the library in August 2018 and left in September 2019 to take a job as information service manager at the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus, Ohio, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Eric Garst, library board director, told the Daily Reporter in an email that 10 people applied for the director opening and the board interviewed four candidates.
“The board was impressed with Karyn’s passion for small libraries, history of writing grants, knowledge of both adult and child programming, among many other things,” Garst said. “While Karyn is still learning the ropes, she immediately brought a contagiously positive personality and will fit in great in Vernon Township.”
Libby Wyatt, a library board member, called Millikan “the whole package.”
“She stood out more than others because of her experience in small communities like ours, activities she’s provided for patrons of the library and finding outside funding to support programs to strengthen the libraries she’s been in,” Wyatt said.
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Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library
625 E. Broadway, Fortville
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
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