At the time, the library system nearly had stopped recruiting, said Lynn Masumoto, an administrator for public libraries. Now the system is playing catch-up and has run through all the recruits sent by the state human resources department and even advertised for librarians on the Mainland, Masumoto said.

"We reacted to the severest of cuts by restricting the hours," she said. "The economy of the state has improved, and we haven't experienced the level of cuts we anticipated. We're trying as much as possible to restore hours. The problem now isn't money but enough people to fill positions."

The state library system, which runs all 51 libraries statewide, has about 135 vacant positions out of 553, from janitor to head librarian, she said.

About 10 libraries have volunteered to return to a six-day-a-week schedule, but shortages allow only three to begin this week, Masumoto said: Manoa, Kailua and the Thelma Parker Memorial library on the Big Island.

Last month, two other libraries on Moloka'i and the Big Island bumped up their hours.

The extra hours are welcomed by patrons and librarians.

"We've had a lot of demands from the community," said Hilda Comitini of the Manoa library. "They were very disappointed that we reduced our hours."

At Kailua Public Library, the staff agreed last year that it was vital to stay open weekdays, because so many children use it after school, said Patti Meerians, children's librarian. The library eliminated Saturday hours instead.

Now the library can reopen on Saturdays. "Everyone's really happy," Meerians said.

"The community is thrilled," said Alice Fink, a member of The Friends of Kailua Library. Many people complained about the Saturday closing, Fink said, because the library serves as more than a place to check out books; it's a community center.

"Weekends are so important for students and the working public. This gives them a Saturday, and they've missed it terribly," she said.

DorothyRose Babineau, a longtime Kailua library user, said she was delighted. "I think extended hours is a good thing, because more people should be using the library," Babineau said.