A new library on wheels hits the streets next month and the Hawaii State Public Library System is celebrating. State Librarian Stacey Aldrich will receive a symbolic key for the “Holoholo Bookmobile” from the Maui Friends of the Library (MFOL) at a Grand Opening and Blessing Ceremony On Sept. 10, at 10am, at the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center.
The Holoholo Bookmobile is a $300,000, state-of-the-art vehicle that will replace the Library’s 21-year-old bookmobile. The new vehicle–which will be based at Wailuku Public Library –has a capacity of 3,000 books, CDs, DVDs, audio books and periodicals; thousands of used books were sold in the MFOL bookstores at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, Wharf Cinema Center in Lahaina and in Pu‘unēnē to raise funds to purchase the bookmobile.
MFOL Board Member Richard Buckley will emcee the key-presentation ceremony at the Queen K mall; and Rev. Alapaki “Al” Terry will conduct the blessing. Dorothy Tolliver, past MFOL President and the Bookmobile Committee Chair who spearheaded the project; and current MFOL President John Tryggestad will offer congratulatory messages. Uncle Wayne and the Howling Dog Band and Hawaiian lap steel guitarist Joel Katz will be performing. The bookmobile will be on display throughout the day, and free books and refreshments for keiki will be provided at the Friends’ Bookstore near Sears.
Tolliver said the bookmobile represents one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the non-profit in its 103-year history. “We are very grateful to our 80 volunteers and customers at our three used bookstores that made this bookmobile possible. Our ‘library on wheels’ will bring much needed services to schools, communities and rural areas throughout Maui that do not have libraries.”
State Librarian Aldrich said the HSPLS is grateful to the MFOL for their support of Maui public libraries. “This new bookmobile will enable us to serve more residents on Maui and provide access to an amazing array of materials and services in a mobile-friendly way,” she said in a statement.
The new bookmobile will be staffed by a full-time librarian and a driver; funding for the librarian and driver is coming from the State Legislature. Bookmobile driver Michael Tinker and bookmobile Librarian Jessica Gleason will help patrons find and borrow books and other library materials. Gleason will also familiarize patrons with online resources including eBook downloads, databases, and online learning available through the Hawaii State Public Library System website (librarieshawaii.org) and provide story hours and special programs to places miles from the nearest library.
Also, the public can contact Wailuku Public Library if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodations are needed. For more information, call 808-243-5766.
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