RISKO RESIGNS AS DIRECTGOR OF CAPE PUBLIC LIBRARY

After 18 months, Terry Risko Monday resigned as director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library in what library directors are calling an "amicable separation."

Risko said Monday night that circumstances during the past four months led to his departure. "It's been a very difficult four months," he said.

Risko said he learned of his resignation from news reports Monday.

He was hired by the library board of directors to replace Martha Maxwell, who left the position in May 1990 to take a job with the Jefferson County library. Risko's starting date was Dec. 3, 1990.

Although he refused to comment on the circumstances leading to the resignation, Risko said: "I'm very pleased with what I've been able to accomplish while at the library. I think there has been a new life in the library."

Although his resignation isn't effective until Sept. 30, Bettye Black, assistant library director, said she was told Friday by a member of the board of directors that Risko was "no longer employed by the library." She said he wasn't at work Monday.

Black said library staff members were surprised to learn of Risko's resignation.

Joe Buerkle, Risko's attorney, and Dale Gerecke, an attorney who's on the library board, said they agreed not to disclose details of the resignation.

"We have an agreement between the library and I and Mr. Risko that we won't disclose details of the agreement," said Buerkle. "Essentially, they've agreed to disagree."

The attorney said Risko now will "be looking for greener pastures."

Gerecke also refused to comment on the circumstances of Risko's resignation, but said the decision was one reached collectively by the library board and the director.

"One thing I want to say is that the separation of Terry from the library is an amicable separation," he said. "There are no hard feelings and no threat of litigation that sort of thing."

Mary Robertson, president of the board, said she thought the arrangement was for the best for all parties involved. She said the decision was one the full board supported.

"I don't think there was any dissension on the board about it," She said. "Basically, it was just a decision on the part of both parties that it was maybe a better opportunity for Terence, that maybe he'd do better somewhere else.

"He has very high goals. I think maybe this might give him an opportunity to use his sophisticated abilities as a library manager in a bigger city."

Robertson praised Risko's abilities as library director. She said he was instrumental in guiding the library's effort to automate its services.

"He's a very talented, creative manager," Robertson said. "He certainly added a lot of beneficial things for the library. I think he has bigger goals in mind than Cape Girardeau."

Gerecke said he thinks the library is "headed in a positive direction," thanks in part to Risko's efforts.

"There have been a number of positive things that have occurred since December of 1990 when Mr. Risko was hired," he said.

Gerecke confirmed a report that the locks on the library's doors have been changed, but said the action wasn't directly related to Risko's departure.

"It was something the library had actually contemplated doing before because other former employees had keys that really shouldn't have had them," he said. "We just decided now was a good time to change the locks."

Robertson and Gerecke said the search for Risko's replacement will probably start soon.

"We have a board meeting Thursday, and I'm sure we will discuss that to some extent," said Gerecke. "I think probably there will be a committee formed to look into that."

Risko of Mount Clemens, Mich. has extensive library experience. He came to Cape Girardeau from Utica, Mich., where he was a reference librarian for the Shelby Township Library.

He's also served as director of libraries in Saginaw, Mich., Bettendorf, Iowa, and Dodge City, Kan., and held positions at libraries in San Antonio, Texas. He also previously owned three bookstores in southern Florida.

Risko has as master's degree in library science from the University of Texas at Austin, and also attended St. Mary's Law School in San Antonio.

Some information for this article was provided by reporter Julie Bollman.