A new director has been named for the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

Elizabeth R. Ader of Lee's Summit will begin duties as library director here April 1, filling a vacancy created by Terry Risko, who left in June.

Ader is head of access services at Miller Nichols Library at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

A library search committee, which included the nine members of the library board of trustees, voted to hire Ader.

Janet Ruopp, board of trustees president, announced Monday that Ader had accepted the position at a salary of $40,000.

"We're pleased to announce that Ader has been appointed director," said Ruopp. "She has a lot to offer. She has experience in both academic and public libraries."

Ruopp said that within the past year Ader has completed work for a certificate of professional development from Miami University School of Business Administration and a certificate in management programs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"She will be a good match for the Cape Girardeau Public Library," said Ruopp.

The committee selected Ader, who has more than 20 years experience in library service, including three years as library assistant at the Kansas City Public Library, over four finalists, who had been narrowed from a list of about 42 applications.

Ader completed work for her M.L.S. at the University of Missouri School of Library and Informational Science in 1986, and has been involved in library work since her graduation from Park College, Parkville, Mo., in 1965.

"I'm excited about the new position," said Ader Monday. "Cape Girardeau has a lot to offer."

Ader has worked in the academic library at Miller Nichols Library for the past 10 years.

"I have worked at a public library, a community college library, and a university library," she said. "My work at the UMKC facility has provided me with many opportunities for planning, developing people skills and providing vision and direction for access services. I have revised the structure of the department and designed new jobs to meet new demands."

Ader was involved in selecting the library's computer hardware and equipment needed for automation of the circulation system and has helped train personnel in implementing the system.

"I have had a successful record in a challenging job at UMKC," she said. "I think my experience and energy will be a good match at Cape Girardeau.

"I'm committed to offering the best possible service to people in the community and in the library. I'm ready to accept the challenge."

Ader is a member of the American Library Association. She is also affiliated with the Academic Library Statistics Committee.

She is co-author, with Julie Pinnell, of an academic handbook, "Security and Safety of People in the Urban University Library."