HEPL board, which made headlines over teen book removal policy, hires new director

The Hamilton East Public Library board has hired a familiar face as its new library director.

Melissa Loiselle, who has been deputy director for seven months and previously worked for nine years in youth services at HEPL, will replace Edra Waterman, who resigned last December. Waterman lead the system as it was thrown into the national spotlight over the board's policy to move teen books deemed not "age appropriate."

The board of trustees unanimously approved Loiselle’s appointment in a vote Thursday. She served as director of the Vernon Township Public Library from January, 2021, until November 2023. Before that, Loiselle was youth services manager at HEPL’s Fishers Library.

Loiselle holds a master’s of library science from Indiana University.

“As a longtime resident of Fishers, it is an honor to serve my community once again,” Loiselle said in a HEPL news release. ”I will work hard to ensure the Library exceeds the expectations of the people of Fishers and Noblesville.”

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Waterman resigned after a tumultuous stint in which she sparred with HEPL’s ultra-conservative majority about a controversial book removal policy. The year-long relocation policy drew national attention after a novel by Indiana youth author John Green was moved from the teen section and he criticized the action on social media.

By the time Waterman resigned after 12 years at the helm, the conservatives had lost their majority on the board and the book removal policy had been rescinded.

Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at john.tuohy@indystar.com and follow on X/Twitter and Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hamilton East Public Library board hires new director