EARLY LAST MONTH, Dennis Walcott, the grandson of Barbadian immigrants, began a new chapter in his career in New York City.
The 64-year-old public official, who was born and grew up hearing his grandparents talk in Queens about life in Barbados, became president and chief executive officer of the extensive Queens Library system, one of the largest of its kind in the country.
It’s a position that pays US $295 000 annually and places in his capable hands the future of the system’s 61 branches and other facilities scattered across the borough.
Every year, millions of New Yorkers use the facilities as community centres for everything from exhibitions, neighbourhood meetings and after-school programmes to English as a second language classes for immigrants.
Walcott brings to the library job a well-earned reputation as an efficient executive. For example, as deputy mayor for education and community development and later as chancellor of the Department of Education he earned the praises of people across the city for his ability to get things done and reach out to people.
“It’s going to be a challenge, and I love challenges,” Walcott told the New York Daily News about his latest job. “I also like surrounding myself with people who are smarter than me.”
As head of America’s largest school system, the Bajan-New Yorker was responsible for 1.1 million students, almost 80 000 teachers, 1 800 public schools and an annual budget of US$24 billion. Interestingly, within six weeks of stepping down as chancellor, Walcott accomplished a life-long dream: living in Barbados, albeit for a year, relating to educators, administrators, professors and students of the University of the West Indies. He served and was made an honorary distinguished fellow of the UWI.
“I always had a dream of going to Barbados to live and to be there with my best friend, my wife Denise,” he told the SUNDAY SUN.
On his way to the City last year he described his stint in Barbados as “fruitful, productive and thoroughly enjoyable”.
Walcott will need all the savvy, experience and ability to work well with people if he is going to resurrect the reputation of a library system from the pit of scandal in which its former CEO left it.
Thomas Galante, who had held the job for several years, made the headlines for his reported lavish lifestyle and ways of running the library. Audits alleged he had used his office’s credit card to buy expensive concert tickets; acquire high-priced sports memorabilia; go to Disneyland and dine at upscale restaurants. Galante, who earned US$395 000 a year, also spent US$140 000 to renovate his spacious office, including US$27 000 for a smoking balcony.
Scott Stringer, the city comptroller, later said an examination of the library’s books unearthed a “sickening track record of waste, fraud and abuse”. On top of that, library employees accused him of being vindictive and high-handed. He denied all charges.
Walcott’s style of management couldn’t be more different. Shortly after taking over as CEO, he travelled on a truck dressed in a sweatshirt, jeans, boots and a cap, helped deliver books and other materials to 13 branches, much to the surprise and delight of librarians and other staffers.
“I think it was important to have an experience picking up and delivering books,” said Walcott. “And I’ll continue to reach out directly where they work and to support them and acknowledged their hard work.”
That’s not all. He is setting up office on the main floor of the Queens Central Library in order to give employees and the public easy access to him.
“I’ll be all over the place,” Walcott pledged. “I might be in a branch or in a library basement. I will always be that type of person.”
Tony Best is the NATION’s North American correspondent. Email: Bestra@aol.com