Come on. Surely there's room for a compromise here.

The supporters of the Makiki Community Library have lobbed the ball back into Gov. Linda Lingle's court, a return volley since her August decision to withhold money appropriated for the library's improvements.

That decision always seemed a curious one. Yes, the state has to watch its spending, and, yes, the library operates in a city-run building.

But let's get real. The governor can release zero dollars? Zero? Since when has the state categorically refused to collaborate with a county in a project that serves the taxpayers and has already been approved by the Legislature?

Lingle is correct in saying that libraries are a function of state government, but the Makiki facility really functions more like a reading room, a place where neighbors can gather and enjoy books.

Offering a grant-in-aid to help bring the building back into a safe, accessible condition sounds reasonable, so does the proposed $1.7 million figure — less than half the amount state lawmakers allotted.

The governor might argue the state shouldn't take on projects it never started. But let's not follow that rule over the cliff. The money is a good investment for the community.