Makiki library repaired, ready to resume hours
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
After more than five months of reduced operating hours, the Makiki Community Library is back to its five-day-a-week schedule after completion of repairs to the old Makiki Park building that houses the library.
• What: Makiki Community Library • Where: Makiki District Park • Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, 2 to 5 p.m. Sundays and 2 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. • To volunteer: Call 522-7076 or stop by the library.
Roofing and electrical work continues on other buildings in the complex and some of the park's arts and crafts classes have been cut back during construction, but the library building was finished about two weeks ago.
At a glance
"We are not intending to close ever again," said Norma Jean Nicholl, president of the library's board of directors. "They can do what they want around us, but they ain't closing us again, that's for sure."
Work on the library building began in August and was expected to be completed by Sept. 30. To accommodate the work, the library cut its hours by nearly two-thirds. Then work was delayed when the contractor had to wait for permits and materials, according to the city.
Nicholl said the long operating delay has cost the library some customers and two valued volunteers — a big loss in an operation that depends entirely on volunteers.
"Volunteers can't sit around waiting for five months," Nicholl said. "They go somewhere else."
The community library was started by Makiki residents in 1978 in what had been the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association experiment station. It is not part of the state library system, but has a collection made up mostly of donated books. Books can be borrowed or bought and the library has a reference room and a large Hawaiiana section.
In May, the library also began offering computer and Internet access to the public, thanks to $25,000 from the Legislature.
The library has an operating budget of about $1,000 a month and was supported by the city until financing was withdrawn in 1995. Since then, Makiki Library has operated exclusively through private donations of money and books.
Librarian Nancy Nott said for much of the past five months no work was being done and the library could have been open. It may take a while before everyone hears they have reopened and customers return, she said.
"We would not have had to close all those months, but the city told us to, so we did," Nott said. "I've talked to some of the crew and parks people who said even if they are working here it shouldn't affect people coming in and using the library."
Nicholl said if the American flag is flying in front of the building, the library is open.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
