For library, money is priceless

The gift that Jason Sherr helped give to the Newport Beach Public

Library this year can be measured in dollars and cents -- for the

record, it came to $405,609. But with so many people potentially

using the library, it could be considered priceless.

Last week, the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation announced

that in the 2003-04 fiscal year it had doubled the amount of funds it

raised. In doing so, it set an all-time record. The bulk of the money

came from a $250,000 gift from an anonymous community member, but the

foundation also solicited thousands more from corporations and other

wealthy providers.

Sherr, vice president of the foundation’s board of directors and

chairman of its Martin W. Witte Distinguished Speakers Lecture

Series, had this kind of philanthropy in mind when he joined the

foundation three years ago.

“I think libraries are one of the more important parts of the

community, so I wanted to get involved how I could,” Sherr said.

“It’s not something exclusive. Anyone can come and use it regardless

of race, religion or creed.”

Thanks to the foundation’s efforts this year, the library may

reach more people in the coming year than ever before. Among the new

services provided are a refurbished children’s library, an expanded

children’s book collection, iPods with book titles downloaded, a new

projector for the Friends Room -- even $20,000, contributed by the

Irvine Company, to replace the diseased palm trees outside the front

doors.

The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation, formed in 1989,

provides services the library cannot obtain on its own through city

funding. When the Central Library on Avocado Avenue opened in 1994,

the foundation raised $2.2 million of the $8.2 million needed for the

project from private sources. Each year, the foundation gives more

than $150,000 to the library.

Although the foundation occasionally receives an unexpected gift,

more often it actively pursues donations through mailings and

personal contacts. Some of its donors, though discreet, are

consistent; one woman has given $30,000 each of the last several

years.

“We’ve just had an increase in individual giving,” said Tracy

Keys, executive director of the foundation. “Most of our donations

come from individuals in the community.”

Among the foundation’s most famous projects is its lecture series,

held every winter and spring. Slated to appear next year are

journalist Seymour Hersh, war photographer Ron Haviv, theologian

Robert Thurman and playwright Edward Albee.

Sherr said one of his longtime dreams is getting a major sports

figure in the series, but asking prices are often too steep.

“The names people know are really expensive,” he said.