HONOLULU — Some $500,000 in public funds has been released to design and construct the expansion of Mililani Public Library's parking lot, improve the safety of its vehicle entrance and exit onto Makaimoimo Street and perform related site improvements, Gov. Linda Lingle's office has announced.

n the nearly 25 years since the Mililani Public Library was built, the Mililani area has grown considerably, with a sizable increase in housing and the addition of a major shopping center, theaters and a bus transit center, according to a news release from Lingle's office. This has led to an increase in use of the library and made the current number of parking stalls inadequate, the news release said.

"Public libraries are important learning centers within our state. They offer families access to valuable reading and multimedia resources and also enhance our sense of community," Lingle said in the news release. "This project will expand and improve the Mililani Public Library to accommodate the increase in use that has occurred over the past two decades."

Design was to begin this month and be completed in April 2009. Construction is scheduled to begin in September 2009 and be completed in April 2010.