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The Maui Friends of the Library, operator of three used bookstores that have sold thousands and thousands of used books, plans to have a new high-tech, $280,000 mobile branch library, or bookmobile, custom built for Maui and donate it to the Hawaii State Library System for use here, according to MFOL President Beth Ivey.
The nonprofit group retained Mobile Library Consultant Michael Swendrowski of Specialty Vehicle Services in Wisconsin to work with it to design the custom vehicle. Swendrowski has designed more than 100 mobile libraries serving communities ranging from Washington, D.C., to Portland, Ore., to islands in the Caribbean. He started the process with a visit to Maui recently to travel Maui roads and work out design ideas with the MFOL committee headed by Dorothy Tolliver.
Susan Werner, Wailuku Public Library branch manager, who started her library career on Maui as the librarian on an earlier vehicle, is working with the MFOL committee and the consultant to complete all the details. She noted that the plan is for the new, 30-foot vehicle to offer complete library services including books, e-books, special programs, checkout and Internet access.
The current vehicle, in service for 21 years, still goes out twice a week but often suffers from mechanical problems and can no longer travel over the county’s steep grades. Plans call for this old vehicle to be retired and its driver to move to the new vehicle.
Also, MFOL has asked that in addition to the driver, the new Bookmobile have a full-time librarian in charge and onboard, making this a true mobile branch library.
“We have gotten tremendous support from the state library system and our legislators for the librarian position to be added for the new bookmobile. This position is in the budget that has been forwarded to Gov. Ige for consideration,” Tolliver noted.
Tolliver explained that the librarian’s job will be to work with the patrons to identify and fulfill needs for each of the stops, to schedule special programs, and to make sure this investment pays off for the Maui community in greater access to all kinds of materials and services a library can provide. “We are so grateful this need has been recognized and acted upon in this legislative session.”
The goal is to deliver the vehicle within a year.