Kapolei Library The long-delayed opening of Kapolei Library has moved a step closer to reality with an agreement by legislative leaders to provide $1 million for books and equipment in July and full staffing next year.
gets spot in budget
The Legislature sets aside
$1.6 million and creates staff
positions for next yearBy Susan Essoyan
sessoyan@starbulletin.com"We're very encouraged and very grateful for this good news," Jo Ann Schindler, acting state librarian, said yesterday.
"We may not be able to meet the December deadline (to open), but we can go forward with recruitment, install computer equipment, and purchase and process materials."
House and Senate budget conferees approved 19 full-time positions to staff the library effective July 1, 2004, setting aside $1.6 million for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
Gov. Linda Lingle has previously indicated support for opening Kapolei Library.
The 33,000-square-foot facility, finished last year, sat empty for nearly a year for lack of books and staff. In March, a part-time reading room staffed by volunteers opened with just donated materials.
Sen. Brian Kanno (D, Kapolei-Waikele) said he still hopes the facility will open by the end of the year, and has been talking with librarians about the possibility of moving staff from other libraries or making temporary hires.
But that may be difficult since the library system already has nearly 70 vacancies, and the governor has imposed a hiring freeze.
"We very much appreciate the support of the governor and the Legislature in getting this library open," Kanno said.
An earlier version of the House budget had eliminated all funding for Kapolei Library, but Sen. Brian Taniguchi (D, Moiliili-Manoa) and Rep. Dwight Takamine (D, Hawi-Hilo), who chair the conference committee on the state budget, announced late Monday that they had approved the funding.
When it opens, the library will be the second largest in the state, after the Hawaii State Library. State Librarian Virginia Lowell, who has advocated full funding for the facility, is on family leave.
State Library System