Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, October 3, 1997

All librarians must help
with book selection

All public service librarians must be involved in selecting books, under library administrative rules approved by the Board of Education.

The Legislature this year passed a law requiring librarians' involvement after librarians complained about the quality and lack of materials sent to Hawaii public libraries by North Carolina book buyer Baker & Taylor. The state library system has since canceled its contract with the company.

The administrative rules adopted last night define public service librarians as all librarians of the Hawaii State Public Library System who service the public - not just branch managers of the 49 public libraries. They include all adult, young adult and children's librarians; all library technicians acting as branch managers; director of the Hawaii State Library; managing librarian of the Library for The Blind and Physically Handicapped; and librarians such as those at the Hawaii State Library who are assigned subject selection responsibilities.

A deputy attorney general earlier had expressed concern over including all of them in the definition of public service librarians because if book-buying contracts were challenged in court, the state would have to prove all of them were actually involved in the selection process, said Board of Education member Kelly King, chairwoman of the public libraries committee.

Librarians were to begin book buying Wednesday. Librarians who submitted requisitions in advance were expected to hit the bookstores by today. Librarians awaiting purchase orders received them Wednesday, said state librarian Bart Kane.

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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Stepfather arrested
in boy's injury

Police arrested a 24-year-old Waianae man yesterday for allegedly breaking the leg of his 4-year-old stepson.

Police are seeking charges against the man, who lives on Kepauala Place, after the boy was brought into Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center with the broken leg on Sept. 3.

Police said the father is suspected of kicking the boy in the left thigh, causing the boy to suffer a compound fracture.

Four teens hurt
in Big Isle wreck

HILO -- Four teen-age girls were injured, one critically, in a one-car accident in Fern Forest subdivision 20 miles south of Hilo yesterday, police said.

The girls were in a two-door sedan on one of the rough, unpaved roads off Captain's Drive when the driver lost control and the car overturned shortly before 5 p.m., police said.

All four girls were thrown from the car. A 15-

year-old passenger was taken to Hilo Hospital in critical condition.

The 15-year-old driver and two passengers, 14 and 15, suffered minor injuries.

Two held in Pahoa
bank robbery

PAHOA, Hawaii -- Police are holding a man and woman for allegedly robbing the Pahoa branch of First Hawaiian Bank yesterday.

The 46-year-old Wood Valley man and 37-year-old Pahoa woman entered the bank before 3 p.m., handed a teller a note saying they had a bomb, and demanded money, police said.

After receiving cash, they ran south, but were seen walking through Pahoa a short time later and were arrested. They were being held in Hilo pending charges.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.