University of Hawaii President Kenneth P. Mortimer today was to present the Board of Regents with a 1997-1999 construction program that puts expansion of Hamilton at the top of the list.

The library expansion was No. 10 last year, but it was not funded.

Scott Y. Nishimoto, Manoa's undergraduate student body president, said: "If you look at any university, the library is really the heart of the university. With Hamilton being in the shape it is, it's like the university's heart is in trouble. So I think that's where it belongs."

Hamilton was designed to house 1.7 million books, but there are more than 2.9 million volumes stored today, with some in jeopardy. The lack of space forced librarians to temporarily house $10 million in books at open-air Sinclair Library, exposing the collection to mold outbreaks and insect infestations.

UH regents meeting in Hilo are to decide tomorrow on the construction budget as well as an 1997-99 UH operating budget based on $361 million in general funds. A dramatic increase in law school tuition is also on the table.

The $36.9 million Hamilton expansion is part of a $196.9 million construction program for state higher education over the next two years. Of that, $79.6 million is requested for UH-Manoa; $17.4 million, UH-Hilo; $53.2 million, community colleges; and $46.4 million for UH system-wide projects. Some $350,000 is for revitalization of the Waikiki Aquarium.

Also in the budget is funding for athletic locker rooms, classrooms, offices, equipment and storage rooms at the Special Events Arena. The $5.6 million project provides athletes with a hospitality suite for "training table" meals during the season, an issue raised recently by the football coach.

Since 1977, Hamilton has undergone dramatic changes in technology, but has been seriously hampered by aging, outdated facilities. Phase I of the library was built in 1965; Phase II in 1977. Long-range plans called for an extension at Hamilton in 1985.

In its 1991 report, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges said UH must fix the library's space problems by 2000 or face problems with reaccreditation.

The Phase III addition - planned at the former Hamilton Snack Bar - would increase power and telecommunications capabilities, provide additional space for book, journal and audio-visual collections, and double the existing study space.

UH Senior Vice President Eugene Imai said the UH construction budget, once approved by regents, will be sent to Gov. Ben Cayetano, who will decide how to allocate the state's limited construction dollars among the agencies. Imai warned the state could opt to fund other UH projects and disregard Hamilton.

In December 1994, outgoing Gov. John Waihee shifted priorities on the UH construction list and funded completion of the Special Events Arena over improvements at three campuses and renovations at Hamilton.