Hawaii State Library Centennial Celebration

Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship#KaimukiHawaii Community website by MBC/Ernest Abrams. Call 808-739-9797 for advertising/sponsorship#KaimukiHawaii

Kaimuki, Hawaii
News Item
Powered by MBC NewsMaker
Hawaii State Library Centennial Celebration
Tweet

Hawaii State Library, the flagship of the Hawaii State Public Library System, will celebrate its Centennial Anniversary from February 1 through 2013. The Library will present an historical exhibit of the Hawaii State Library in the First Floor Reading Room during those dates. In addition, the Library will conduct special programs and new exhibits will be featured each month.

As a prelude to the Hawaii State Library’s 100th Anniversary and to pique your interest, we would like to share a brief history of the early years of the Library:

The Honolulu Library and Reading Room Association, which had served Honolulu for 34 years before merging with the Library of Hawaii, is considered the “mother” of the Hawaii State Public Library System. It was formed in 1879 to “provide a reading room for mechanics where they could spend an evening, enjoyably, away from the allurements of the saloons.”

King David Kalakaua, Queen Kapiolani, Queen Emma, and Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop all donated personal materials to the Honolulu Library and Reading Room Association. King Kalakaua was elected an honorary member and donated personal funds toward the establishment of the Honolulu Library and Reading Room Association. The King also provided tax exemptions and a grant for the first permanent site, which was located on the corner of Hotel and Alakea Streets. The royal family and many other prominent society members sponsored fairs and concerts to raise funds for the infant library. Queen Emma and other members of the royalty bequeathed their personal book collections to the Honolulu Library and Reading Room Association.

With 1,325 books from the Hawaiian Historical Society, the Honolulu Library and Reading Room Association eventually evolved into the Library of Hawaii, with an initial collection of 30,000 books. Governor Walter Frear, convinced millionaire philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to contribute $100,000 for a new building, and on February 1, 1913, Governor Frear was issued the very first Reader’s Card and he became the new Library of Hawaii’s first patron when he borrowed two books.

Plans for the Hawaii State Library building were drawn up by New York architect Henry D. Whitfield; and H. L. Kerr, a local architect, supervised the work. A. Lewis, Jr. was appointed by the trustees to be chairman of the building committee. The estimated cost of the building exceeded Mr. Carnegie’s gift, so additional funds were appropriated by the Territorial Legislature.

Not even visionary Dr. David Starr Jordan, then president of Leland Stanford University, who addressed the crowd at the October 21, 1911 cornerstone-laying ceremonies, could have foreseen the almost unbelievable growth of the new library. Right from the start, a sort of “traveling” library system that would bring library services to every part of the Territory was established and, within a few months, thousands of volumes were sent out.

Here are some special programs that are scheduled for the Hawaii State Library’s Centennial Anniversary Celebration. Programs will be held in the Library’s main lobby. For more information, call 586-3500.

Special Exhibits for February

Lobby: “Andrew Carnegie, the Man Who Loved Libraries”

First floor reading room: “Hawaii State Library’s Centennial Scrapbook”

“Ke Aloha” Concert by Hawai’i Youth Opera Chorus

Thursday, February 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Children’s Storytime in the Edna Allyn Room for Children

Saturdays -- February 23 at 10:30 a.m.

“The Status of Carnegie Libraries Today”

Saturday, February 23 at 11:30 a.m.

Between 1883 and 1929, more than 2,500 libraries were built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Through the years, Carnegie libraries, initially developed as free public libraries, have experienced varying fates. Some, like our Hawaii State Library, have retained their original function. Others have been razed, or the buildings re-purposed. Dr. Rebecca Knuth, a University of Hawaii at Manoa professor of the Library and Information Science Program, will discuss the fate of Carnegie libraries today, more than 100 years from the time Carnegie began building his libraries. The Hawaii Center for the Book is sponsoring this one-hour presentation will be held in the First Floor Reading Room and is suitable for ages 12 an older. For more information, call 586-3499.

Book Discussion Group

Check with the Language, Literature & History section (ph. 586-3499) for this month’s book title

Thursday, February 28 at 6:30 p.m.

"Na Mele o Hawai'i"

Thursday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m.

"Opera Vignettes"

Thursday, April 18 at 6:00 p.m.

"Ulu Tree" Youth Opera by Herb Mahelona

Thursday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m.

About Kaimuki Public Library

The mission of the Hawaii State Public Library System is to provide Hawaii's residents, in all walks of life, and at each stage of their lives, with access to education, information, programs and services, and to teach and nurture the love of reading and the habit of life-long learning.

HOURS

Sun - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Mon - 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Tues - 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Wed. - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thurs.- 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Fri- 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (beginning 12/7/2012)
Sat & State Holidays - Closed

Library Cards
You may apply for a library card at any Hawaii public library. The initial card is FREE for Hawaii residents. Cards are also free for military personnel and their dependents with a copy of orders. The resident card replacement fee is $5.00. Resident library cards must be renewed every five years. There is no charge for the renewal.

STAFF

Branch Manager -- Maile Davis
Reference Librarian -- Jeffery Eldredge
Reference Librarian -- Cora Kelly
Children's Librarian -- Melissa LePage
Young Adult Librarian -- Baron Baroza

MAIN POLICIES

Library Cards
first one free, replacement $5.00
Loan Period
3 weeks for books and CDs
1 week for DVDs/ videos
View more information on Borrowing, Returning & Renewing Materials
Overdue fines
25 cents per day for all ages for books, CDs, DVDs/videos
Rental fees
$1.00 per week for DVDs and videos

SERVICES

CONNECT FROM HOME:

Search Catalog
CDs & DVDs
electronic databases
Download eBooks/Audio/Music
Serials
library information
Free Wi-Fi in the library during business hours. Login using your valid library card number and your PIN (last 4 digits of your phone no.)
and more!

Children's Storytimes
Most Sundays at 10:30 am, call 733-842. Enjoy stories and a simple craft.

Internet Computers -- one hour sessions with valid library card
13 internet computers for the public, one w/ ADA accommodations... printing available, donations requested
Click here for commonly asked questions regarding PC Reservations
Reserve a PC here

Loan Renewals:
On person with library material or call 733-8422, then press "0" -- have your library material with you when calling. For online renewals, use www.librarieshawaii.org and "my account" and your library card no.

Book Drops -- for after business hours -- one by the front door or drive-up book drop in the upper parking lot

Friends of the Kaimuki Library -- support group for the library
-- Members and officers needed
-- Ongoing book sale bookshelf - $1.00 per book

2 Photocopiers
** 20 cents per page

2 Microfilm Reader/Printers
** 15 cents per page

Ongoing Book Sale
** Friends of Kaimuki Library

ENHANCED SERVICES
The Hawaii State Public Library System provides the following enhanced services for library users. Click on the service in which you are interested for more information.

Questions? Ready for an appointment?

Like Our Facebook

Kaimuki, Hawaii News Item

Kaimuki, Hawaii
News Item