Library Director Retires After 20 Years

Striving for excellence has been the guiding force behind the 20-year tenure of Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library Director Martha Catt.

Looking back as she planned her retirement, Catt said her accomplishments were possible because of the support and cooperation of those around her. “It’s taken a lot of people to get to where we are today,” said Catt, who left her position on the same date she started – May 14.

In 1990, when the Director accepted the post, she said members of the Library Board and Foundation entrusted her with two main responsibilities: Build a new, larger Library and make it a world-class operation.

That vision meshed well with Catt’s personal motto: “To make everything I touch as good as I can humanly make it.” It also allowed her to work hand-in-hand with the Board and Foundation to grow and improve the Library. “We wanted everything we offered to be the very best,” she said.

Residents are now able to walk into an architecturally distinctive, red brick building on Fifth St. that is a sanctuary to life-long learning; offering access to a large variety of books, movies, music, computers and events. That combination of services and programs helped push the institution into the top two percent of all public libraries in 2008. The Hennen Public Library Ratings Index ranked Hussey-Mayfield in the 98^th percentile of public libraries throughout the nation that serve between 10,000 and 24,999 residents.

Today, the Library houses over 135,000 items and serves over 16,000 residents in this ever-growing community.

As top leaders often do, Catt does not hesitate to credit those she works with for the Library’s successes. Yet, Library Board of Trustees President LeeAnn Biggs said Catt has earned the respect and admiration of those same people.

"Martha Catt has enriched our community, and libraries throughout Indiana, through her gracious and strong leadership,” said Biggs. “Not only does she have a heart for service, but she has a skill set that places her at the top of her field."

Catt will continue to share her accumulated wisdom after her retirement as a library consultant. The rest of her time will be spent completing craft projects and visiting with family and friends.

The Library Board recently announced Jacob Speer as the new Executive Director at the Zionsville Public Library. His first day will be June 14.