Governor, State Senators Criticize
Hawaii State Librarian
Several Hawaii state senators called for State Librarian Virginia Lowell’s resignation March 4 following a rebuke by Gov. Linda Lingle that said Lowell had a “less than professional approach” in finding ways to cut spending in the statewide library system.
Gov. Lingle’s criticism came in the wake of Lowell’s decision to reduce library hours in order to cover a $500,000 cut, about 2.5% of its budget, due to a shortfall in state tax revenue. At a news conference February 28, Lingle took issue with Lowell’s statement that the libraries needed to either cut hours or close libraries completely and lay off staff. “So we need to use all our creativity and our energy to find ways to continue providing great service,” Lingle said.
Complaints were voiced in the state senate during a marathon vote on state appropriations, which included a bill calling for a $1-million emergency appropriation that Lowell had requested in January, to open the underfunded Kapolei branch. Some senators said they had no confidence that Lowell would use the money for the rural library, according to a March 4 report by KITV-TV in Honolulu. “I hope you will join me in writing a letter to the head librarian asking that she do what is best for the people of Hawaii and step down from her position,” said Sen. Bob Hogue (R-Kaneohe).
However, members of the state Board of Education came to Lowell’s defense the next day, calling the criticism unwarranted. “I think that legislators need to understand that she’s got a tough job because the libraries are underfunded and have been for several years,” Carol Gabbard, chair of the BOE Library Committee, said in the March 6 Honolulu Advertiser. “Any decision any librarian would make in that situation is a difficult one.”
Lowell was on vacation on the mainland when the controversy erupted.
Posted March 10, 2003.
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