from typing import List
import statistics


def get_median(lst: List[float]) -> str:
    """
    Returns the median value in the list as a 9-character string, or nine spaces
    if the list is empty.
    """
    if len(lst) == 0:
        return f"{'':9s}"
    elif max([abs(x) for x in lst]) >= 10000:
        return f"{statistics.median(lst):9.3e}"
    else:
        return f"{statistics.median(lst):9.3f}"