KAPA‘A — Kapa‘a Public Library changed its public service schedule effective Monday, reducing the time it is open by three hours daily due to a staffing shortage, a release from Hawai‘i Public Library System Information Specialist Paul Mark states. Under
KAPA‘A — Kapa‘a Public Library changed its public service schedule effective Monday, reducing the time it is open by three hours daily due to a staffing shortage, a release from Hawai‘i Public Library System Information Specialist Paul Mark states.
Under the new revised schedule, Kapa‘a Public Library is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. with the exception of Tuesday when it is open from 2 to 7 p.m. The library is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Formerly, the library was open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays with the exception of Tuesdays when it observed noon to 8 p.m. hours.
“Normally, it takes a minimum of three people to keep the library open,” said Greg Nitta, the Library Technician V at Kapa‘a. “We have two people here effectively, and last week, when one of the two fell ill, we had to close on one day.”
Nitta said Lani Kawahara, the head librarian is on a reduced-hours schedule due to her commitments to the Kaua‘i County Council. There are three other full-time staff members, but due to a family illness to one of the employees, that person is out indefinitely, leaving two employees to run the library.
“It’s really hard to run the library with just two people under the old schedule,” Nitta said. “It means there is no time for lunch breaks, and if one person gets ill like happened last week, there is no one else to fall back on.”
Nitta said prior to the state budget crunch, the library was at liberty to hire emergency help when staffing shortages occurred.
However, with the current budget crunch, that flexibility disappeared and the staff has to do with whatever resources it has.
“We really appreciate the patrons’ cooperation in these times,” Nitta said. “We will continue to do our best with the staff we have.”
Nitta said prior to the revised schedule, there was little, if any time for the library staff to do things like processing new material and getting them out to the floor.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to catch up on some of the backlog so our patrons will have new materials,” Nitta said.
Holly Lindsay had to make a return trip, Monday, but didn’t mind.
“Some of the books I got, you can’t find in Minnesota,” said Lindsay, of St. Paul. “We came at 10 and saw the sign, so we came back after the library opened at noon.”
Lindsay, an elementary school teacher, said she loves the library, pointing out books on Hawaiiana which she said are not available in her home state.
“I gave them a check (as a contribution),” Lindsay said. “We love the library. I might not be licensed as a librarian, but I am licensed as a teacher and I asked them to call me so I can volunteer. I can stock shelves and even take out the garbage.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
