A new Library Bookmobile will hit the streets on Maui in September! State Librarian Stacey Aldrich will receive a symbolic key for a $300,000 bookmobile for the Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) from the Maui Friends of the Library (MFOL) at a Grand Opening and Blessing Ceremony September 10. The public is invited to the 10 a.m.ceremony at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center.
This state-of-the-art vehicle – the Holoholo Bookmobile – replaces the previous 21-year-old vehicle and will be based at Wailuku Public Library. Holoholo means “go for a ride” in Hawaiian. Thousands of used books were sold in the Friends’ bookstores at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center in Kahului, Wharf Cinema Center in Lahaina and in Pu‘unēnē to raise funds to purchase the bookmobile.
MFOL Board Member Richard Buckley will emcee the ceremony, Rev. Alapaki “Al” Terry will conduct the blessing, and Dorothy Tolliver, past Friends’ President and Bookmobile Committee Chair, who spearheaded the project, and current Friends’ President John Tryggestad will offer congratulatory messages. Uncle Wayne and the Howling Dog Band and Hawaiian lap steel guitarist Joel Katz will provide entertainment. Throughout the day, the bookmobile will be on display, and free books and refreshments for keiki will be provided at the Friends’ Bookstore near Sears.
Tolliver said the Holoholo 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 Stacey Aldrich said, “We are so grateful to the Maui Friends of the Library for their support of our 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.”
The new bookmobile will be staffed by a full-time librarian and a driver, thanks to funding 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 (www.librarieshawaii.org) and provide story hours and special programs to places miles from the nearest library. The Holoholo Bookmobile has a capacity of 3,000 books, CDs, DVDs, audio books and periodicals.
Contact Wailuku Public Library as soon as possible if a sign language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed. For more information, call (808) 243-5766.
