Norwich ― The Otis Library Board of Trustees on Friday named Assistant Director Cathleen Special as the new executive director, succeeding Robert Farwell, who retired.

Nicholas Fortson, outgoing board president, echoed the board’s enthusiastic and unanimous support for Special, noting her 22 years of experience at Otis and her ties to the community.

“Cathy has years of administrative experience at Otis,” Fortson said in a news release announcing the appointment. “She understands the complexities of librarianship in a 21st-century urban community, and being from Norwich she brings an acute awareness of those programs and services that are essential to the community’s well-being.”

Special has worked the last five years as assistant director. She has worked on numerous special projects that raised the library’s standing in the community and earned Otis the National Medal for Museum and Library Service in 2016. The library was also chosen to host a Smithsonian traveling exhibit on human evolution.

Most recently, Special has led Otis’ collaboration with the Connecticut State Library and Libraries Without Borders U.S to try to connect new users to resources and services available at local public libraries.

“I want to thank the library board for selecting me as the next executive director,” Special said in the news release. “I am excited about the library’s future and the possibilities to expand our programs and resources both in-house and out in the community. I’m looking forward to working more closely with community members to identify and address their evolving needs.”

c.bessette@theday.com