Beloved Culver librarian rehired by public library

CULVER, Ind. - A beloved librarian, whose termination sparked outrage in Culver in September, has been rehired by the library’s interim director.

Director Cathy Thomas extended an offer to Esmeralda “Esmie” Rodgers, who will rejoin the organization on Wednesday.

Rodgers will manage Youth Services at the Culver-Union Township Public Library.

The library plans to host an open house in November so community members can meet the library’s staff and board of trustees.

At the time of her termination, Rodgers said it was out of the blue. Rodgers said she was told a "breach of duty" contributed to her firing, and that she had an attitude. 

Within days of the announcement, all but one of the Culver library board members resigned, using words like, "ugliness," "hate" and "cancelled" in their resignation letters after receiving backlash from the community.