Bill Text: HI SCR95 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public Libraries; Task Force; Underserved Communities

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-24 - (S) Report adopted, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [SCR95 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SCR95-Amended.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	95
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THAT A TASK FORCE BE ESTABLISHED TO IDENTIFY THE LIBRARY SERVICES NEEDED IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND SEEK COMMUNITY SOURCES OF FUNDING TO OFFSET THE LOSS OF FUNDING TO LIBRARIES.

 

 

     WHEREAS, an informed citizenry is the foundation of democracy; and

 

     WHEREAS, since Benjamin Franklin formed the first public library, public libraries, which are open to all people regardless of age, race, gender, social condition, and religion, have been a major component of informing the public in all aspects of the informational spectrum; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System has been mandated to supply all the people of Hawaii with access to information and educational and recreational materials, while preserving the right to privacy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System has been heavily impacted by both an increase in population in underserved areas and the heavy expenses of updating and supporting current informational technologies; and

 

     WHEREAS, budgetary constraints have forced workforce reductions of approximately seventy-eight positions out of approximately five hundred eighty-four positions, and libraries in Hawaii are now facing additional budget cuts; and

 

     WHEREAS, adequate resources to correct this situation to supply the people of Hawaii with the library and information services necessary to maintain the basic standard of service are not available; and

 

     WHEREAS, this creates an inequity in service to the people of the State; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State Librarian is requested to establish a task force composed of representatives of public and private organizations, philanthropic and commercial organizations, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and cultural and geographic communities from all islands; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to identify the library services needed in underserved communities, including resources that can be developed, and facilities, collections, staffing, hours of operation, and services that will be needed; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to seek community sources of funding to offset the loss of funding from the Department of Education to community and school libraries; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2011; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall become a permanent resource to assist the State Librarian in developing and updating the Hawaii State Public Library System long-range master plan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and the State Librarian.

Report Title: 

Public Libraries; Task Force; Underserved Communities