Deputy Librarian of Congress Donald L. Scott made the following remarks at a reception honoring the 40th anniversary of the Federal Library and Information Center Committee.
Good evening and welcome to the 40th anniversary celebration for the Federal Library and Information Center Committee, known as FLICC.
It is my great pleasure to celebrate an organization that was founded on March 11, 1965, to improve coordination and planning among research libraries of the federal government so that federal librarians would identify common problems, seek solutions and improve services to the government and nation.
Kathryn Mendenhall, left, interim executive director FLICC and FEDLINK, and former director Susan Tarr, who retired Feb. 3 after 30 years of Library service, offer a toast to FLICC at a March 24 reception marking FLICC's 40th anniversary, in front of the statue of James Madison in the Library's Madison Building. - Gail Fineberg
FLICC has an esteemed history. From its founding with [former Librarian of Congress] Quincy Mumford as its chair and Paul Howard as its first executive secretary, FLICC has given federal libraries both visibility and direction. This achievement could not have been possible without the staunch support of a dedicated membership of federal librarians from every agency. Their contributions have shaped the organization into the national voice for federal librarianship that it is today.
By 1970, under the leadership of Kurt Cylke [current director of the Library's National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped ], FLICC began to broaden the organization's base and garner input from every information sector. Automation was the issue at the time, which led FLICC to establish its well-known educational programs and begin laying the foundation for FEDLINK. Cylke's last act as head of FLICC was to sign a contract with OCLC to allow dial access to the OCLC system.
For the next 14 years, James P. Riley was the executive director. His leadership produced remarkable innovation and growth. FLICC and FEDLINK began to provide retrieval services, tape processing and acquisition support. It also spearheaded the first White House Conference on Library and Information Services in 1979. During this time the FLICC Forum was born, and FEDLINK business grew from $7 million in 1981 to $92 million by the end of the decade.
As the 1980s came to a close, Mary Berghaus Levering [current acting director of Integrated Support Services at the Library of Congress] was named the new executive director of FLICC. Her efforts at restructuring the entire FEDLINK program and the building of a strong volunteer tradition from the FLICC membership created a dynamic and versatile organization.
In 1995 Susan M. Tarr began her 10-year tenure as the executive director of FLICC. She led the FLICC membership in the development of a new mission statement and a vision that took the organization to a new level of esteem throughout the federal library community and beyond. She also spearheaded the passage of a law to make FEDLINK a revolving fund that revitalized the business of FEDLINK and benefitted the federal information community with a host of new cost-saving contract options.
Earlier this year Susan retired and Kathryn Mendenhall was named as the interim executive director. She stepped up to lead FLICC through its latest transition and serves as our host for the 22nd Annual FLICC Forum today.
Today, as we look back over 40 years, we see an outstanding institution that, with the past and present leadership and the continued support and direction of its membership, will lead the community forward as it serves the nation's information needs.
Congratulations, FLICC, on 40 years of federal service that have revolutionized how the government meets the information needs of the people.
