Public libraries are among the first to take the hit when budgets get tight. In the past year of severe state fiscal troubles, library administrators here have scrambled for funds to keep branches open — in particular those in remote rural corners.

It's reality, but it's sadly counterintuitive. In an economic downturn, libraries provide a free service that's needed more desperately than ever. They deliver entertainment and leisurely enjoyment to people compelled to curtail their spending, and it provides guidance to those in search of new jobs and education for a career shift.

Fortunately, the officials who run Hawai'i's fleet of library branches seem determined to avoid the worst outcome of severe budget cuts.

This week they have launched a drive — "Keep Your Library Open!" — to raise $3 million. That amount of money, they said, should help ensure that none of the branches must shut down permanently, although reductions in hours and staff still loom.

Hawai'i isn't alone in this dilemma. Nationally, libraries have been targets for closures during the economic downturn, according to the American Library Association, which also cites a surge in demand during any recession.

Hawai'i library officials figure that if they can secure as little as $3 from each of its patrons, the goal is within reach. From CDs and DVDs to paperbacks, from printed periodicals to Internet access, almost everyone has reason to use the libraries and to help ensure their survival.

There are few more fruitful ways for all of us to give back just a little to one of our community's most important resources.