REBUTTAL

Ironically, your article (“Wood passed over for library position,” June

14) appeared the morning I was cleaning out my library trustee files.

As a result, documents--which have been shared with the Daily Pilot--were

again readily available to me. In reviewing them, I can’t help believing

the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation and I have been routinely

subjected to careless journalism and sensational reporting.

This latest article refers to my “accusing the foundation of using nearly

70% of funds raised on operating costs, an allegation later disproved by

an audit.”

But that’s not what happened.

The 70% figure came from the foundation’s proposed budget for fiscal year

1999-00. In turn, the foundation’s audit covered a different fiscal year,

1998-99. Thus, they had no bearing on one another. That’s careless

journalism.

Also note the foundation never adopted its proposed 1999-00 budget; as a

result, the foundation board generously donated $126,672 to the library

Feb. 4. So there’s a happy ending to that chapter.

The article also mentions a “fight over how to pay [TV news anchorman]

Tom Brokaw for speaking” at the Distinguished Speakers Lecture Series.

In reality, there was no issue over payment. In my file is a fax received

from the foundation’s executive administrator three days after Brokaw’s

appearance. It reads: “Please forward an invoice from Mr. Brokaw’s office

and payment will be made immediately.”

I did that and, despite an inappropriate public display by one committee

member, the invoice was promptly paid.

The positive aspect of this chapter is that Brokaw not only donated half

of his honorarium back to the Newport Beach Public Library, but never

charged the series for his hotel or travel costs as speakers normally do.

The article also states that I “was instrumental in turning some library

events into high-profile happenings.”

I appreciate the compliment. But my files (and my pride) indicate a

possibly more meaningful legacy.

Over the last four years, I am proud of any role I played in securing

6,000 new volumes in three special library collections, in formulating a

communitywide master plan of library growth, in developing a marketing

and advocacy plan, in establishing the Distinguished Speakers and Panel

Discussion Series, and finally (and this is one of my largest files) in

assisting to enact the memorandum of cooperation which now guides library

trustees and the foundation in an efficient and productive partnership.

In conclusion, when I embarked on four years of service to the local

library, the thought of gaining public recognition never crossed my mind.

But neither did I imagine that after those years of involvement, my

reputation, and those of others, would be impugned by careless and

basically negative writings.

Trust me, this is not a way for a community-minded newspaper to encourage

broad-based participation in, and support for, civic concerns.

JIM WOOD

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: The Daily Pilot stands by its coverage of the library.