• Thank you for rice donations • Public libraries need your support Thank you for rice donations A big thank you to the Safeway managers Lisa Merritt (Lihue) and Anthony Perkins (Kapaa) for supporting the Hawaii Food Bank Rice drive March 17t
• Thank you for rice donations • Public libraries need your support
Thank you for rice donations
A big thank you to the Safeway managers Lisa Merritt (Lihue) and Anthony Perkins (Kapaa) for supporting the Hawaii Food Bank Rice drive March 17t and 18. They collected almost 12,000 pounds of rice for the island’s 29 food pantries.
The St. Catherine Food Pantry distributes about 200 pounds of rice a week which we get from the HFB at a heavily discounted rate to serve an average 350 people a week in Kapaa.
Mahalo to the HFB staff: Michelle, Wes, James, Dave & Vanessa for helping the less fortunate of our community.
Mark Whitson, operations manager, St. Catherine Food Pantry, Kapaa
Public libraries need your support
The president recently released his budget which eliminates federal funding for libraries provided by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
With the current budget, technology funds for your branch libraries in Waimea, Hanapepe, Koloa, Lihue, Kapaa and Princeville would be eliminated. The funds provided by LSTA are vital to ensuring equity of access to information and resources that support individual and community success. Specifically, the LSTA provides $1.2 million each year to support Hawaii’s communities’ access to the internet and information resources in our 50 libraries across the state.
Internet access and digital literacy skills are increasingly required to apply for jobs, access government resources, and even keep in contact with loved ones. Yet 65 perce3nt of libraries across the nation are the sole source of no-fee access to the Internet. And in rural communities such as ours, 73 percent of libraries report they serve as their community’s only free Internet provider. Therefore, LSTA funds are vital for ensuring equity of access for all Hawaii residents.
Call, mail and email Rep. Tulsi Gabbard now and both your U.S. Sens, Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, in May to save library funding. For even more impact, attend Rep. Gabbard’s upcoming Town Hall on Wednesday, April 19, 6 to 7:30 PM at the Kauaʻi Veterans Center and ask her to support library funding.
House:
The Honorable Tulsi Gabbard, 1433 Longworth House Office Building, United States House of Representatives,Washington, D.C., 20515 , Email: TulsiOffice@mail.house.gov, Kauai staff: (808) 286-7449, Kaulana Finn, Washington: (202) 225-4906
Senate:
The Honorable Mazie Hirono, 730 Hart Senate Office Building, United States Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510; Hawaii: (808) 522-8970 , Washington: (202) 224-6361, www.hirono.senate.gov/contact
The Honorable Brian Schatz , 722 Hart Senate Office Building, United States Senate, Washington, D.C., 20510, Honolulu: (808) 523-2061; Washington: (202) 224-3934, www.schatz.senate.gov/contact
Mahalo from your Kauai librarians.
Sierra Hampton-Eng, Youth Services Librarian, Lihue Public Library
Lani Kawahara, Librarian, Kapaa Public Library
Eric Larsen, Acting Librarian, Princeville Public Library
Carolyn Larson, Librarian, Lihue Public Library
Janet Perea, Librarian, Hanapepe Public Library
David Thorp, Librarian, Koloa School and Public Library
Kuulei Vaughn, Children’s Services Librarian, Lihue Public Library
Michelle Young, Librarian, Waimea Public Library
