Table Locking?

Gurus,

I am trying to execute this stored procedure when I try to change all occurences of a field in a table.

(
@Dept char(8),
@DDept char(8)

)
As
Set NoCOUNt On

Begin
Select '@DDept'
update phodept set fo_dept = @Ddept
where fo_dept = @Dept
update phone set fo_dept = @Ddept where fo_dept = @Dept
End
GO

The table/database is being used by others, generally in a read only mode.
via a VB 5.0 FE program.

The Stored procedure, when it is invoked, just hangs like it is waiting for exclusive use of the table.

Is there a way around it, without doing major surgery on the VB code?

Thanks.

Sam