New York Public Library’s Executive Compensation Scrutinized

The New York Public Library is facing criticism over big increases in the compensation provided to its top officials, reports The New York Times.

The Times reviewed the latest federal informational tax returns filed by the organization, which shows the compensation package of the library’s chief executive, Paul LeClerc, increased to $800,000 in the most recent filing from $221,000 the previous year.

The library also hired three officers last year at what the paper calls “substantially” higher compensation levels than their predecessors.

Samuel C. Butler, chairman of the compensation committee of the library’s board, said the committee felt Mr. LeClerc, who did not speak to the Times, earned his pay increase.

“The board thinks he has done a simply fantastic job, and we do not want to lose him,” Mr. Butler said.

The library, with a budget of $300-million and an endowment of about $660-million, ran an emergency campaign to raise $18-million three years ago when it was experiencing some financial problems, the newspaper reports.

Salaries paid to leaders of the New York Public Library and other big nonprofit institutions are available in The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual compensation survey.

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