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THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF
    ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM OF STARTER LIBRARIES.



 1        WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System is charged
 2   with providing our communities with access to books, ideas
 3   resources, and information which is imperative for the
 4   education, employment, and enjoyment of Hawaii citizens; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System is
 7   committed to providing quality information resources to meet
 8   the personal and professional needs of our communities and to
 9   enrich the quality of life of our citizens; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System provides
12   Internet connectivity as a means of giving fair and equal
13   access to important information to our citizens; and
14   
15        WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System has
16   embraced Internet access as an additional reference tool to
17   provide informational and educational services for personal and
18   professional development; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Public Library System has
21   established a statewide online reserve system whereby every
22   citizen has the potential to request and receive library
23   materials in any community where a library exists; and
24   
25        WHEREAS, many island communities have no hope for a
26   traditional library in their area in the foreseeable future and
27   its residents will remain underserved if we continue to commit
28   resources only to this traditional model of library service;
29   and
30   
31        WHEREAS, in order to reach underserved communities, the
32   state of Maine has successfully established "starter libraries"
33   utilizing online reserve systems and delivery through very
34   small libraries in private homes or community facilities
35   staffed by volunteers; and
36   
37        WHEREAS, the starter library system offers a way to

 
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 1   minimize the economic burden of additional staffing of a full-
 2   serve library and the cost of new buildings, furnishings, and a
 3   full library of texts, references, and normal library
 4   materials; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, it is possible to establish this form of outreach
 7   with minimal cost to, or supervision by, the Hawaii State
 8   Public Library System; now, therefore,
 9   
10        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
11   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
12   Representatives concurring, that the Board of Education is
13   requested to study the feasibility of establishing a program of
14   starter libraries for underserved communities in this State;
15   and
16   
17        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education submit
18   to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the
19   convening of the Regular Session of 2000, a report of its
20   findings and recommendations; and
21   
22        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
23   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Board of Education
24   and the State Librarian.