---

Library friends will
pick up book donations

---

Question: I would like to donate 20 boxes of books to the Friends of Waianae Library, but I need someone with a van or pickup truck to pick up the books. I don't have any way to get them to main drop-off point. I haven't been able to contact anyone to help. Can you help?

Answer: The Friends of the Library of Hawaii will pick up donated books, but in that case, not all the books or proceeds from any sale of those books will go directly to the Waianae Library.

However, that's not necessarily a negative for that library, said Caroline Bond, executive director of the Friends of the Library of Hawaii.

The statewide Friends group supports all 51 public libraries in Hawaii, and it's the only organization that will pick up donated books, she said. There are also 39 smaller Friends organizations that help specific libraries.

Because of limited space and understaffing, most libraries do not accept large donations.

In the case of the Waianae Library, 20 boxes of donated books would be "more than Waianae can handle right now," Bond said. "It's a pure logistical matter of space."

So, large donations are really better for the statewide Friends group, she said.

"As quite often happens, the moneys raised (by sales) go to all 51 libraries, so they get materials that are a little more timely."

The Friends of the Library of Hawaii accepts donations year-round for its annual book sale, which benefits all libraries, including the Waianae Library, Bond said.

The smaller chapters often have sales or sale tables at a library, and the proceeds go directly to that library.

Although the umbrella Friends organization will do pickups -- of five or more boxes -- Bond said it is a bit behind schedule at this point.

"We're in a smaller space for now, and we're picking up as space permits," she said.

Call 536-4174 for more information.

Bond also pointed to a program called "Makana Akamai," whereby you can donate money to buy a book for a specific library. Donors get to put a specific name in the book, such as a grandchild's or a classroom's, she said.

"Waianae is one of our largest benefactors for that program," she said.

Fliers with information about "Makana Akamai" are available in the libraries. Or, call Bond at 536-4174 for one, as well as for more information about the Friends and on how to make donations.

Mahalo

To all the volunteers who turned out for the "Get the Drift and Bag It" waterways cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 18, especially at the Ala Wai Harbor. There was a huge amount of floating debris; it was a disgrace. I'm not able to name all of them, but there were high school students and people from Home Depot, the Hawaii Yacht Club, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and others. Mahalo especially to Ewalani Sato of the Army Corps of Engineers, which coordinated the cleanup. Auwe to many boaters who didn't show up to help. Only three people with boats joined in this cleanup, despite the posting of notices all through the harbor. -- A Boater

|

---

---