Donald Scott; Lucy D. Suddreth, special assistant to Mr. Scott; Winston Tabb, associate librarian for Library Services; Maria Pisa, associate director for public services at the National Agricultural Library, chatted briefly following Mr. Scott's address.- Photos by Jim Higgins
On Dec. 11, in the Mumford Room of the Madison Building, Donald L. Scott delivered his first public address since becoming Deputy Librarian of Congress.
He spoke before members of the District of Columbia Library Association and the Federal Librarians Round Table, as well as staff of LC's Federal Library and Information Center Committee and other Library of Congress staff.
A native of Missouri, Mr. Scott, who retired as a brigadier general in 1991 after serving 31 years in the Army, received his commission as a lieutenant in 1960 at the same time as he earned his B.A. degree in graphic arts from Lincoln University. He was awarded an M.A. degree in counseling and human development from Troy State University in Montgomery, Ala., in 1982. Upon retiring from the Army, Mr. Scott worked for the mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, as his chief of staff and chief operating officer.
In 1993 Mr. Scott became chief executive officer of Americorps' National Civilian Community Corps, a federally funded corporation that recruits young people (18 to 24 years) for full-time community service. At Americorps headquarters, in Washington, Mr. Scott designed the organizational structure, developed the training program, recruited and placed more than 1,000 participants at four nationwide sites and designated which community projects would receive assistance.
Mr. Scott, who has made a career out of public service, began his talk, "Managing Libraries Toward the 21st Century," by noting that he shared a common interest with his audience -- a commitment to leadership, responsibility and accountability.
"We're all in the same business -- helping people," he said, and indicated his major theme: "A manager's most important task is to determine how to help others do their jobs better."
He told the audience what his experience taught him: "You must help the people at the bottom of the structure perform their jobs. Only the person at the top has the authority to move mountains."
Mr. Scott recalled moments while in the military, how strong top leadership was effective in helping civilian workers embrace automation and modernization; another where top leadership enforced the Army's policy of equal and fair treatment for all of its soldiers.
Mr. Scott closed by emphasizing that strong commitment is the key to ensuring the success of any policy or project. "You cannot just 'talk the talk'; you must 'walk the talk.'" Then he listed the goals he will pursue at the Library:
- "Sell" Dr. Billington's vision for the Library to its managers. Ensure that the appropriate people are involved in the decisions that affect the work in their division.
- See to it that Library employees are instructed in the techniques of handling meetings in a constructive manner in order to reach a common ground and reduce disruptive agendas.
- Work toward designing projects, plans and agendas that would give each participant an opportunity to contribute. All employees will be encouraged to participate.
- Encourage people with differing views to listen to each other and seek common ground.
Finally, Mr. Scott urged his listeners to "find that individual on your staff who is meeting a goal that you have set out to achieve. Then find a way to give the individual a pat on the back in front of his peers."
