Just a few months into producing my local podcasts, I interviewed Tom Dickey, formerly Community Development Director for the Town and later the City of Fishers, in the summer of 2016.  We discussed a number of topics when the origins of Launch Fishers came up.

The city was on the lookout for a place to get Launch Fishers started.  At first a small house just off 116th Street looked like the only option.  That was only enough space for 2-3 co-working firms to fit.

Then the city looked to the Hamilton East Library in downtown Fishers.  The building was built in 1993 but the lower floor had not been utilized yet.  As Tom Dickey explains it, Edra Waterman, whom he described as a “forward thinking library director,” offered some library space.  It was much larger than the small house under consideration and allowed Launch to grow quickly.  Launch Fishers has since moved into a larger building and the library is utilizing that lower level for the Ignite operations, which is very popular.  I have used it many times.

It was Library Director Edra Waterman that allowed Launch Fishers to grow quickly in the early years because that library space was offered.

My first exposure to the Hamilton East Library was when I moved to Fishers in 1991.  There was no Fishers branch at that time but I made several Noblesville trips to take advantage of the library.  Once the Fishers building was open, my wife Jane, and our two daughters, made use of the library regularly.  We all consider the library a major community asset.

I do not believe I am the only one concerned about the current state of controversy for the Hamilton East Library.   I have covered a couple of library board meetings lately and have seen a level of conflict between the board and many in the community that has risen in recent months.

I am not here to take sides, but I will say this – it is troubling to see this amazing community asset – the Hamilton East Library, serving Noblesville and Fishers – in such turmoil. This is not a good thing for those of us living here and is not the kind of publicity Fishers needs.

I fear it may be too late for this, but is there any way to bridge the gaps?  There is clearly conflict between the library board and a segment of our local community.  I would hope everyone would take a deep breath, think about how this is impacting our community, then find a way to lower the temperature.

If everyone continues this constant back-and-forth, I do not foresee a good ending to this.

I won’t get into the issues of the debate in this piece.  My only hope is that cooler heads will prevail and we can preserve the tremendous public asset, the Hamilton East Library.  It is all up to us now.