Scott named Harrington's Employee of the Year

HARRINGTON — Marleena Scott is entering a new chapter in her career.

As the director of the Harrington Public Library for 18 years, she was recognized as the city’s Employee of the Year on April 15.

“It’s a very big honor,” she said. “We do everything that we do over here because we want to make the city look good, and we want to help our patrons and community.”

That initiative is now being recognized by others.

“It makes you feel really good that other people are seeing the work you put in and the effort,” Ms. Scott added.

One of the biggest projects for the library and its staff is a new home for the facility, a 15,000-square-foot building on Little Mastens Corner Road that should be open by the fall.

“Currently, our biggest accomplishment is that we are going to be opening the new library,” Ms. Scott said. “Being able to secure funding for that was huge.”

She said that, with more space in the updated location, she hopes the library can offer more resources, as well.

“I think the goal is really to expand our programming and be able to expand our services to the local community.”

As far as her days in the library, she is taken by the element of surprise.

“I think my favorite part is just being able to work with the different people that come in here all the time,” she said. “It’s always something different, and it can be very rewarding when you can help someone, not only finding books.

“You never know what it is going to be, but it’s always something you didn’t expect that turns out for the best.”

Ms. Scott continues to look for lasting influence with her patrons.

“I hope that the impact we make grows even more,” she said. “We can do more for people, and we hope that the library becomes a really essential part of life for the city and surrounding community.”