LIBRARY'S BETTY MARTIN CHOSEN AS NEW DIRECTOR

After rejecting 14 outside applicants, the Cape Girardeau Public Library Board chose one of its own -- Adult Services Coordinator Betty Martin -- as its new director.

The announcement was made Wednesday. The library had been without a director since February, when Elizabeth Ader moved to Kansas City for personal reasons.

Martin was "more qualified than any of the candidates who applied for the position," said Janet Ruopp, president of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Board of Trustees. "When you have someone that gifted on your staff, you have to look at her."

Martin had not initially applied for the position because she was on the search committee. When the most qualified applicant took another job before being interviewed, the committee put the search on hold.

Ruopp said Martin increased the number of outside speakers and other adult programs at the library, made those programs more visible and has done a good job representing the library in the community.

Ruopp said the board consulted with Ader before offering Martin the job.

Martin, 44, came to Cape Girardeau three years ago from the St. Louis, where she supervised youth services for four branches of the St. Louis Public Library. The was named one of the library's outstanding women employees.

Before that, she worked for 15 years at the Wallingford (Conn.) Public Library, where she was director of youth services.

A native of Boston, Martin earned her master's degree in library science at Southern Connecticut State University.

"I hope to continue the wonderful work that Elizabeth was doing," Martin said. "I'll be trying to keep the progressive mode in terms of technology."

Her next project will be making the library catalogue available on-line outside the library.