Senators criticize head librarian's management

Some call for her job after branch-hour cuts

The Maui News
Wednesday, March 5, 2003

By BRUCE DUNFORD
The Associated Press Writer

HONOLULU - State senators on Tuesday joined in the criticism of state Librarian Virginia Lowell, complaining she ignores the Legislature's directions in managing the statewide system.

Sen. Bob Hogue, R-Kaneohe-Kailua, urged his colleagues to join him in a letter, urging that Lowell "do what is best for the people of Hawaii and step down from her position as head librarian."

"She is arrogant, she is inflexible, she does not respond to community concerns and much of the time her efforts fly in the face of common sense," he said.

Lowell's office said she was on leave until Monday. She did not return a message left with her office asking for comment.

The state librarian is hired and fired by the state Board of Education, an appointment that is not subject to Senate confirmation.

Last June after the board gave her a "more than satisfactory" rating in her annual evaluation, Lowell said that positive rating validated her decision to delay opening the then just-completed $6.5 million Kapolei Library until it was fully funded.

The complaints during Senate debate Tuesday on a $1 million emergency appropriation to open the Kapolei Library follow Gov. Linda Lingle's criticism on Monday.

The governor said by reducing library hours, Lowell took "a less than professional approach" in making spending cuts in the face of declining revenues.

Sen. Fred Hemmings, R-Lanikai-Waimanalo, launched the attack on Lowell, noting his earlier complaint that she closed the Waimanalo Library on Saturdays, even though the Saturday opening was being paid for through a private donation.

"I don't think we should be giving her more money until she accounts for the way she is already spending existing resources and most assuredly until she starts following the laws that are set for in the budget," he said.

Maui Sens. J. Kalani English, D-East Maui-Lanai-Molokai, and Shane Tsutsui, D-Wailuku-Kahului, said they are concerned the Neighbor Island libraries are being shortchanged in the statewide system under Lowell's administration.

English complained that the Legislature last year approved reallocation of funding to the Makawao Library, but Lowell said there would be no funding for Makawao unless the Kapolei Library were funded.

Tsutsui said if there is to be an emergency appropriation, it should be shared by libraries statewide.

Sen. Brian Kanno, D-Kalaeloa-Makakilo, agreed the complaints about the library system are valid, but he urged the bill be approved so the Kapolei Library can be opened, adding that Lowell recently reversed herself and now supports using volunteer help to do so.

Because of concerns that Lowell might not spend the $1 million on the Kapolei Library as intended, the bill was amended in the Education Committee with specific language that the money must be spent there, Kanno said.

The emergency appropriation passed on a 16-9 vote. Some senators said their "no" vote reflected opposition to Lowell, not to the Kapolei Library funding.

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