"It's not fair," said Robinson, who was studying the business digests late morning yesterday on a table next to the central courtyard. "If I come in the afternoon I'm constantly looking at the clock and rushing to do everything. Coming in the morning it's really crowded. I hope they don't cut the hours any more."

Two years after the state's public libraries reduced hours, with some open just five days a week in response to budget cuts, the system still has not recovered, according to state librarian Jo Ann Schindler.

The 51 state libraries have fewer employees now than in 2003 when the cuts were implemented, and libraries are still largely operating with fewer hours. There have been a few bright spots, Schindler said, but 2005 may see another year of trying to get by.

At a meeting today, a Board of Education committee will take up the library's problems. Schindler expects to tell the committee that the library system may never be back to full capacity. Even though money is now available, employees are retiring faster than they can be replaced, and recruitment is tough because of low starting pay for librarians of around $35,000.

Two years ago there were 70 vacant positions. Although 179 vacancies have been filled in those two years, 94 spots are still empty out of a total of 585.

Downtown library branch patron Allen Robinson, who religiously studies the stock market, says it's hard to get his fill of information because the branch hours conflict with his busy schedule. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

All of it has meant that for the past two years library patrons have had to turn to online research or other resources to find materials they need, or re-arrange their own schedules.

Marlene Dung Branton is one of those who would like to see the downtown library open on Mondays. By then her two children have gone through all their books for the week and weekend and need more.

"It would be nice to have that extra day," she said, as she and 6-year-old Tiana stocked up yesterday, toting 20 books between them. "We often forget that they're closed and we just show up." Twice, said Branton, she's put money in the parking meter before remembering the library is closed Mondays.

"The kids get hungry for books," she said, watching her daughter scan the shelves in the children's section for more in the Junie B. Jones series about a rascally little girl of the same age. "We take as many as we can."

Through the recessionary 1990s, the state library system suffered a decade of cuts, and then more from the end of 2002 to April 2003. But even when the reins were loosened, Schindler said, they proceeded cautiously. Too cautiously, in retrospect. Although Schindler now has the money to make the hires because the governor and Legislature kept her budget stable at the same $30 million level as last year, she can't find the people.

In Manoa, children's librarian Hilda Comitini said the busiest time is when children get out of school each day — along with Tuesday evenings. Manoa is one of a handful of libraries that have been able to add a few hours because the staff increased. Now the library is open six days a week, with a staggered Tuesday schedule from 1 to 8 p.m. In general, the libraries close at 5 p.m.

"Tuesday is our busiest day," Comitini said. "We were able to get new people. We'd like to get more, if possible. It's getting busier and busier."

That's how the libraries have coped, Schindler said. By staggering hours and days open, the system has tried to offer hours to help as many patrons as possible.

At the downtown library on King Street, for instance, Saturday is the busiest day, student helper Perrie Mason said. So they've closed the doors on Monday and Sunday and kept them open Saturdays.

"From 3 to 5 p.m., that's when all the students come in. Some do homework or projects or hang out with their friends," Mason said.

But Schindler also is trying to offer new online services to help offset the loss of library hours, with more than 40 online databases available with your library card number and a home computer. And she is encouraging residents to apply for the many open jobs in the system.

"I would encourage people to call their local library," she said. "In some cases there are temporary positions available. It's a way to get the foot in the door and see if it's something they would like to do."