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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Kapolei library may open limited services this year

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

KAPOLEI — Gov. Ben Cayetano has released money for the Kapolei Public Library, which will enable the new facility to open with limited services as early as December.

At a glance

• What: The state Board of Education's Library Committee will discuss what programs should be run when the library opens with partial service in December or January.

• When: 3:30 p.m. May 29

• Where: Kapolei Public Library, 1020 Manawai St.

"We're going to try and open some of the programs at the Kapolei library, but not some of the traditional services such as book-borrowing," state Librarian Virginia Lowell said yesterday.

"I think the main point is getting this building open."

The library system took over the $6.5 million building in April and wanted the facility open by July.

The 30,000-square-foot library was expected to remain dormant until late next year after the state Legislature approved just $267,000 of the $1.7 million sought by state library officials for 24 staffers plus books, furniture and other equipment.

The money approved this month would have paid for five library staff members but no books.

But state Sen. Brian Kanno, D-20th ('Ewa Beach, Makakilo, Kapolei), said he asked to meet with Cayetano last week to look at ways to speed up the library opening. Cayetano told Kanno that he would release money from the 1 percent budget restriction he placed on the state library program this fiscal year.

The money, approximately $212,000, is earmarked for the purchase of books and other materials, according to Kim Murakawa, Cayetano's spokeswoman.

While the latest appropriation is a fraction of the $800,000 needed to fill the Kapolei library shelves, Lowell said the money to be released is important, because it takes between 12 to 18 months to catalog books.

"At least we can get a jump-start on the book processing," Lowell said.

Now library officials need to know what services the community wants begun first.

Library officials are considering storytime for younger children, computer training classes, as well as using the building for meetings by civic groups and community organizations. Ideas will be the topic at a May 29 Board of Education committee hearing at the Kapolei library.

Kristine Newmann, president of the Friends of the Library of Kapolei, a nonprofit group, was pleased at the turn of events.

"At least it's a start; I was starting to give up hope," Newmann said. "I guess getting it partially open, even a couple days of week, is better than not at all."

The closest public libraries are in 'Ewa Beach and Wai'anae, each at least 20 minutes away.

Newmann said local businesses have been gathering donations to help buy books for the library. While state officials will gladly accept donations, Lowell said whether the library opens full-time by 2004 depends on whether the Legislature can come up with $1.7 million next year for additional books, staff and operating costs.

"All this effort to open up the library won't matter if we can't keep it going," she said.

Reach Scott Ishikawa at sishikawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2429.