After serving as acting director for just over a year, Mary Elizabeth (Molly) Raphael has been named director of the District of Columbia Public Library. The library board of trustees unanimously voted to appoint Raphael February 11 following her unanimous selection by a seven-member search committee.
Raphael, who will be the first woman to serve as DCPL director in over 50 years, had been acting director since Hardy R. Franklin's retirement on January 31, 1997. Franklin was indicted January 30 for theft and mail fraud against the city for failure to repay some $20,000 the district advanced him for expenses he incurred as 1993–94 ALA president. He also faces charges of sexual harassment (see American Libraries, Oct. 1997, p. 19–20).
Posted February 16, 1998.