Posted on: Saturday, November 13, 2004

Service at UH library will find your books

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

Hamilton Library on the University of Hawai'i-Manoa campus is moving to provide services for students, faculty and staff by adding a "paging" service that will let users receive books they need even though the building isn't yet open and flood recovery is still under way.

"People can come in and request their items and we have runners go up to the shelves and get it and bring it back," said associate librarian Jean Ehrhorn.

"There's no elevator and no lights but we're still trying to get books to people."

The items available are those in normal circulation and won't include journals and reference books.

The paging service will operate from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with about 20 to 25 student workers doing the running during the shift. It's a response to student needs despite the damage to the library's basement collections and electrical system from the massive Oct. 30 flood that hit the campus and Manoa valley.

Some books will be back within 20 minutes, but librarians expect a two-hour turnaround because of pent-up demand. They expect users to place a request and then come back to pick it up. Requests will be taken not at the main entrance but at the entrance on Maile Way by the loading dock.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.