Posted on: Friday, May 9, 2003

Shorter library hours to take effect May 18

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A new schedule that will reduce hours at most Hawai'i public libraries will take effect May 18.

Thirty-one of the state's 50 public libraries will operate on a five-day, 40-hour schedule because of a $526,000 budget restriction. The remaining 19 libraries are on a five-day schedule and their operations will not change.

In addition to the reduced hours, bookmobile services on O'ahu, Kailua on the Big Island, and Wailuku on Maui will end.

One of the biggest changes will be at the Hawai'i State Library on King Street, where hours are being cut from 53 a week to 40. The library, which is now open six days a week and until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, will be closed on Sundays and Mondays and be open at night on Thursdays only.

Although the reduced hours may be an inconvenience to the public, state librarian Virginia Lowell said they are better than the alternative, which was to close some libraries.

"Our strategy was designed so that we did not have to close libraries or lay off any staff," Lowell said.

The Lingle administration cut the library system's budget by 2.5 percent for this fiscal year, which ends June 30. But Keith Fujio, the library's administrative services officer, said the reduced schedule will be followed "until further notice."

Fujio said the changes were supposed to begin in March, but library officials needed to provide at least two months notice to unions. He said some non-major issues still need to be worked out with the Hawai'i Government Employees Association and United Public Workers, but the changes will proceed .

He said the changes resulted in eight employees' being transferred to other libraries, but there were no layoffs and no transfers from island to island.

The only exception to the five-day schedule is Waimanalo Public & School Library, which was granted an exemption by the Board of Education to open on Saturdays.