LIHU‘E — The collection of classic films is just a month old, and “to our delight, the day after we opened up the Classic Movies section we had patrons raving about how helpful it is,” said Lisa Post, the library’s
LIHU‘E — The collection of classic films is just a month old, and “to our delight, the day after we opened up the Classic Movies section we had patrons raving about how helpful it is,” said Lisa Post, the library’s circulation desk supervisor.
The library is making it easier for people to locate classic movies by putting them in their own section, a news release states.
“The section contains some real gems,” said Lihu‘e Library branch manager Carolyn Larson. “Like the inimitable Christmas classics ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ with Natalie Wood or Frank Capra’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”
“As Kaua‘i’s largest and most centrally located library we try to maintain a somewhat broader and deeper collection than is feasible at our other Kaua‘i libraries, and one of the target areas is significant older films.
“Some of the classic films aren’t borrowed as often as newer releases but you hate to be without them. Like some classic literature, there are older films that are integral to our cultural history and the history of filmmaking,” Larson said.
Artist Uri Blayer is studying the evolution of film and checks out several films every week, the release says.
“There is a really great selection of films here,” he said. “The new Classics section is very cool. I’m usually looking for classic films and it’s much easier to find them this way.”
“It’s the best deal in town,” said library assistant Karen Matsumoto. “The rental fee for DVD movies is only $1 for a week. Plus we have a large selection of movies.” All DVD rental fees go to purchase books for the library’s children, teen and adult collections.
The Lihu‘e Library’s DVD collection includes more than 2,800 titles and new releases are added regularly. The collection is currently accessible in several sections including adult fiction for most movies like the recent “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” or “The Ugly Truth,” and adult non-fiction or documentary films like “Food, Inc” and “Wild Pacific.”
At this time there are around 150 titles available in the new Classics collection.
“The library’s challenge now,” said Larson, “is to grow the Classic Movies section to include many more films that should be in the collection. For instance, right now we don’t have copies of the Humphrey Bogart films ‘Treasure of the Sierra Madre’ or ‘The African Queen’ or Audrey Hepburn’s ‘Roman Holiday’ or ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s.’”
Retired Episcopal priest Jan Rudinoff is a regular DVD borrower. “It’s a wonderful collection,” he said. “I’d like to encourage others to join in donating films or funds for the film collection so that we can continue to improve it.”
The library accepts donations of DVDs in good condition. In addition, the Friends of Lihu‘e Public Library have opened a separate fund for the Classics collection so that cash donations can be designated to purchase Classic films needed in the collection. Both tax-deductible monetary donations and donations of DVDs can be made at the library’s front desk. For more information, call Larson at 241-3222.
