Northpinellas: Let reason rule over library donor recognition

[an error occurred while processing this directive] Column

Let reason rule over library donor recognition

By JACK REED

Imagine entering the new Clearwater Public Library sometime in the future, taking a book off the shelf and settling into a chair in the L. Ron Hubbard reading room.

While I made up that scenario, it is just such a fear that has perplexed the Clearwater City Commission. On the one hand, the commission would like to encourage generous contributions to its proposed public library; on the other hand, the commission fears that some of those contributions will come from the Church of Scientology, which will then demand some public recognition of its gift.

What to do?

Commissioner J.B. Johnson suggested ruling out a whole class of potential contributors: churches. "We should not be accepting money from religious organizations, whether it's the Scientologists or the First Baptist Church," he said.

Commissioner Bob Clark expressed concern about Scientology participation as well. "It's unfortunate, but it's a fact of life, just as in other parts of the world something else would be inflammatory."

And Commissioner Ed Hooper had this solution: Withhold formal recognition of all donors. "I don't want to get into that fight," he said.

Should the city give up on the chance for large contributions to the library for fear it would have to acknowledge Scientology? A difficult question, given our history.

So where do we begin unraveling this knot?

I'll start with praise for Clearwater's librarian, Arlita Hallam. She sparked the debate by asking for commission approval of a library donor-recognition policy. Had she not brought the issue to a public meeting, then she and other library supporters would have been left to struggle with these thorny questions on their own. It is a decision that the commission (the whole community, really) should make.

Donations are an important part of the library project. While the city has budgeted $12-million to build a library, that is not enough. Even if it adds to that amount, the city will need help paying for the furnishings that will make the library a special place. That's where contributions will make a difference.

Fund-raisers know that one of the major motivating factors for a person or group to give a lot of money to a library or other worthy cause is recognition. Fair enough, although recognition taken too far can get you in trouble.

For example, controversial lawyer Fred Levin gave the University of Florida College of Law $10-million in return for having the law school named after him. The deal raised such a storm of protest that the law school's dean was forced to resign, which further embarrassed or angered everyone involved.

Scientologists haven't said whether they would give money to the library, or if they did, what recognition they would want in return.

So the City Commission has to establish a policy that could have serious but unforeseen consequences.

The commission can't give up on donations. The city needs substantial financial help if it is to build the kind of library most residents want without using more tax dollars. So withholding recognition for someone who gives generously to the library would be self-defeating.

The commission shouldn't be hypocritical, either. The commission shouldn't say it will accept money from Scientologists, but it won't give them recognition. It would be more honest to refuse Scientology money. But City Attorney Pam Akin has warned the commission that such action might be deemed discriminatory. The commission has to consider her advice.

There should be a way to avoid recognition that makes overt political or religious statements, whatever the group or cause involved.

Hallam's proposed policy is reasonable: Acknowledge gifts with a "discrete engraved plaque mounted on or near the gift." That way, donors would be recognized but all of the plaques would be similar and no one gift would dominate the others. She would rule out naming buildings after any donor, and she would shy away from grandiose forms of recognition. That's appropriate, even if it costs the city some donations.

But even a plaque referring to the Church of Scientology is sure to embarrass some and anger others. Given the church's past behavior, such reactions are understandable.

However, let's keep the situation in perspective. A plaque is a much smaller symbol of Scientology's presence in Clearwater than is the 300,000-square-foot church building rising from the ground on N Fort Harrison Avenue.

Finally, this is an issue that will return to the public realm again and again in the coming years. If it isn't Scientology's involvement in the public library, it will be the church's influence on some other activity or institution.

So Clearwater residents and commissioners should keep their wits about them and come to a sensible conclusion. Let's have the debate now and get on with rebuilding our city.

Back to Tampa Bay area news

Click for TampaBay.com, your entertainment section and more