Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the State Libraries topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State libraries ask Legislature for security, automated sorting and new capital funds
Summary
The Hawaii State Public Library System told the House Committee on Education it needs more funding for security guards, automated handling and repairs, and detailed CIP and planning requests including a Kapa‘a planning/design ask and funding for automated handling and smart shelves.
Stacey Aldridge, state librarian, told the House Committee on Education on Jan. 13 that the Hawaii State Public Library System is seeking additional money to cover rising security contracts and to expand services and repairs across its branches.
Aldridge said library use remains strong: “last year, we had over 3,400,000 items, physical items, moved, in the branches, 1,500,000 digital,” and that internet and program use are significant across the system. She said libraries logged about 143,000 Wi‑Fi sessions and that two digital services — the Canopy streaming platform and PressReader — saw heavy use.
The request to lawmakers includes recurring and capital asks. Aldridge said the system needs more funding to cover rising security contract costs and asked for an additional $1.2 million to fund security at 43 branches. She also described a set of capital and operating requests: planning and design funding for a replacement Kapa‘a library, lump‑sum construction dollars, money for automated handling at distribution points, funds to create temporary “pop‑up” libraries during closures, a half‑year salary to bring on a Waikoloa branch manager ahead of opening, and more repair and maintenance funding to address growing needs such as elevators and air conditioning.
Mallory Fujitani, who spoke for the library system on capital work, outlined two CIP asks: $2 million for Kapa‘a planning and design and a larger lump‑sum construction ask of $25 million in both fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 to support projects that the system said are ready to go. Aldridge said the existing Kapa‘a facility is in a tsunami inundation zone and “we do not plan on doing any renovations to that existing structure.”
Aldridge described technology and efficiency upgrades already completed or in pilot use: an RFID self‑check rollout across every branch, smart shelving that checks items in when patrons return them to shelf, and pilot automated sorting systems to reduce manual handling at distribution points. The system requested $500,000 in FY26 and $250,000 in FY27 to phase in automated handling across distribution points.
Committee members pressed the library for more detail during Q&A. Vice Chair La Chica asked about a planned rebranding; Aldridge said a contract has been completed and a staff rollout is scheduled for February with a public launch in March. Members asked about libraries in flood or tsunami zones; Aldridge identified Kapa‘a and Kihei as near‑term concerns.
Aldridge emphasized the libraries’ role in basic digital access and literacy programs, noting expanded digital literacy classes and partnerships with workforce development; she credited Representative Case for identifying funds to support that work. She also noted the Friends of the Library of Hawaii are statutorily recognized as a fundraising arm for programming and staff education support.
If the Legislature funds the requests, the library system said the dollars would be used first to stabilize services (security and maintenance), then to pilot and scale automation and to advance planning and construction projects already in master planning stages.
The committee did not take a vote during the hearing; members deferred deliberation to the budget process and to later committee meetings.
