Lowell told the state Board of Education that the public library system was initially slated for a cut of more than $1 million for this fiscal year, but Lowell said the Lingle administration tentatively agreed yesterday morning to a more modest cut of about $500,000. The total library budget for the year is $23.4 million.

The state Department of Education also has been instructed to cut $3 million from its budget, but education officials have not yet announced how they will absorb those cuts.

The Lingle administration has asked departments to make 5 percent cuts in their "discretionary" spending. State departments are particularly concerned about the restrictions because they are being imposed late in the fiscal year.

The budget year began July 1, which means the full brunt of the cuts must be absorbed in the last six months of the year, which causes sharper reductions in services than if they had been spread over the entire year.

The budget restrictions for the library system amount to 2.5 percent of the system's discretionary spending, but will still force the department to reduce state library hours to no more 40 hours a week. The libraries will also be issued new instructions that they are not allowed to open for half days, Lowell said.

Currently some large and medium-sized libraries stay open for 50 or even 60 hours a week, and some libraries stay open for half-days during the week to allow them to offer half-days on the weekends.

Lowell said the practice of staying open for half-days to allow the libraries to remain open more total days leads to higher electricity and other costs, and needs to be discontinued to offset the budget cuts.

"We feel that taking these steps now will send a clear message to the public that 'business as usual' or a return to 'the good old days' is not an option," Lowell said in a written statement to the board. "We must look at new, more efficient ways to provide library services, and must educate library users to these new ways."

To absorb the cuts, the library also will discontinue its Bookmobile program, transferring the staff from that program to other operations, Lowell said. The Bookmobiles, essentially traveling libraries, are based in Kailua on the Big Island; Wailuku, Maui; Moloka'i, and Pearl City.

Lowell also said the library materials budget will be cut for all libraries, and more materials will be selected by the central office to reduce costs.

Lowell's recommendations for cuts were approved by the Board of Education in a meeting at Keonepoko Elementary School outside of Pahoa on the Big Island.