The future of the Big Island's Kealakekua Public Library remained uncertain Thursday, even as the Board of Education considered a revised budget proposal.

The Kealakekua branch was one of three libraries that could be closed -- temporarily, library officials claimed -- until further notice if the Board of Education approves the proposal, brought forward because of state library system budget cuts. The Holualoa Public Library was closed earlier this year; library officials said the closure would be temporary, but because the branch has not had a permanent staff member and the library system cannot hire new employees, the date the library would reopen had not been determined. If the proposal passes, other libraries would cut hours and library employees could be furloughed two to four days a month.

The state library system will run out of money by mid-May, unless officials can implement additional budget cuts, according to information provided to the Board of Education. Branches that do not have two full-time workers and a half-time janitor are on the list for potential closures, according to information provided to the Board of Education.

Two fundraising drives were set in motion this week, with hopes of collecting millions of dollars to prevent library closures. But state library spokesman Paul Mark could not say Thursday whether donations could be used to pay staffing costs.

"It's too early to tell whether we can do that," Mark said. "It's a good thought."

The campaigns, one by the statewide Friends of the Library Hawaii and one through the library branches, are being billed as ways to keep libraries open.

Kailua-Kona Public Library Branch Manager Irene Horvath said that though libraries are still waiting on more information about the fundraisers, library officials have told her and other library managers that they would be able to use the funds to augment their budgets. The libraries are still under a hiring freeze, however, and Horvath said the state librarian would likely need to ask Gov. Linda Lingle for an exemption to the freeze. That's assuming the fundraisers brought in the $3.5 million or more set as a goal, she added.

The Friends of the Library Hawaii fundraiser is asking each of Hawaii's residents to donate $3. The second fundraiser allows library patrons to donate specifically to their local branch, or the branch of their choice, by designating the branch on checks. Each library branch has envelopes available for donations.

Since announcing the campaigns Wednesday, the nonprofit Friends of the Library Hawaii received more than $5,000.

Community members concerned about the potential closure of the Kealakekua library plan to picket in front of the library from noon to 1 p.m. today. MaryAnne Maigret, who is organizing the protest, said she and several friends were talking about the potential closure and decided to make their concerns public with the sign-waving event.

"We've been making a sacrifice," Maigret said of Kealakekua patrons. "We could even out the sacrifice statewide."

She tested the community's response to her protest sign Thursday morning. In about 15 minutes standing in front of the library, more than 60 motorists honked as they drove past her, she said.