Kapolei library's future lies in trust fund
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
KAPOLEI — State librarian Virginia Lowell made it clear yesterday how the public can help jump-start the opening of the dormant Kapolei Public Library: donate money, not books.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
A $20,000 donation yesterday from Campbell Estate brought a fund earmarked for Kapolei books to $336,000, nearly half of what is needed for a 60,000-volume core collection, and Lowell encouraged anyone wanting to help to contribute to the account.
At Kapolei Public Library, Daria Newmann looks at one of the recently bought books.
Chief executive officer David McCoy said Campbell Estate was happy to help with the renewed fund-raising drive.
"A city is not a city without a library, and a library is not a library without books," McCoy said.
Lowell ignited a community debate recently by refusing to accept donated books from residents who had been stockpiling them in anticipation of the library's opening. When the Legislature failed to provide $1.7 million for 25 library staff members, books and other library equipment that Lowell said she needed to open the library, it seemed to some residents like the perfect opportunity to help.
Lowell insisted that donated books were not the answer. Though the financing delay meant that the $6.5 million facility would not open as a full-service library until December 2003 at the earliest, she was adamant that the books would not be accepted, and that the state should adequately finance the library and provide an appropriate book collection.
Individuals or businesses interested in contributing money to the Books for Kapolei Campaign can send checks to one of three organizations. Donors are recommended to make reference to "Kapolei library" or "Kapolei library books" at the bottom of the check: • Hawai'i State Public Library System, Office of State Librarian, 465 S. King St., B-1, Honolulu, HI 96813 • Friends of The Library of Hawai'i, 690 Pohu-kaina St., Honolulu, HI 96813 • Hawai'i Library Foundation, 3225 Salt Lake Blvd., Suite 207, Honolulu, HI 96818
The bulk of the money in the Kapolei library trust fund has been provided by the state.
How to help
Along with the Campbell donation — which matches $20,000 given last year — the fund includes $212,000 in state money released by Gov. Ben Cayetano in May as well as a state library system allocation of $21,500 and a $35,000 donation from Friends of the Library of Hawai'i.
Lowell said the $336,650 raised so far — approximately $800,000 is needed to fill the Kapolei library shelves — is important in purchasing books now, because it takes 12 to 18 months to catalog and process books.
"Until the Legislature can fund the much-needed staff positions, we want to get as many books as we can now to give us a jump-start on the book-cataloging process," Lowell said.
The trust fund is not new, but its existence seems to have been lost in the firestorm over the donated books.
Individuals or businesses can donate to the Kapolei library — or any library — through three organizations: The Hawai'i State Public Library System, The Friends of The Library of Hawai'i, and the Hawai'i Library Foundation.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser
Lowell said any donated money will be placed in a trust fund earmarked only for Kapolei library use.
State Librarian Virginia Lowell shows off books bought with money donated to the Kapolei library trust fund.
State Rep. Mark Moses, R-42nd (Kapolei, 'Ewa Village, Village Park), who has been at odds with Lowell on whether books donated by the public could help fill the shelves at the library, said he welcomes the fund-raising drive.
"The sooner we can open the library, the better," Moses said. "I just want to see this library open to the public."
If the five library staff members financed this legislative session are hired and trained by the end of the year, Lowell said the Kapolei library could open two to three days a week beginning Jan. 1 for nontraditional services such as children's storytime and computer training classes.
Lowell said the Campbell Estate grant to the Kapolei library will be used to purchase books more difficult to obtain, such as items for the library's Hawaiian and Pacific collection.
