The Hawaiʻi State Public Library System is poised to lose nearly 25 staff positions and $27 million in funding for the maintenance and construction of its facilities, according to the most recent version of the state budget that lawmakers are considering.
The proposed cuts would put the system under greater strain to serve the public after many of its branches have struggled to fill staff vacancies and operated with reduced hours since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last fall, State Librarian Stacey Aldrich requested an operating budget of roughly $50 million to support 51 branches and more than 500 employees across Hawaiʻi. The current version of the budget would cut nearly $1.4 million in funds by eliminating 24 full-time and one half-time positions, many of which are librarians or library assistants and technicians.
Lawmakers are still debating the specifics of the state budget and a conference committee is set to meet again on Monday afternoon…