Kahuku Public & School Library Branch Manager Fran Corcoran [pictured at right] recently outlined two new services she and her staff are trying to start up:

• A bookmobile carrying 600–1,000 items between Kaaawa and Sunset Beach schools, with stops in between once a week.

• A "new" media production area where library users can digitize old photos, put together presentations and do other audiovisual projects.

"I'm especially hoping we can get the bookmobile in place by summer, because we have a summer reading program, with incentives to help them keep up their reading skills," said Corcoran, who lives in Laie and has worked at Kahuku for the past three years. "Our kids need to keep up their reading skills."

"Statistics show we don't have any kids coming from Kaaawa, and very few from Hauula," she said, explaining the summer reading program starts June 12 "and runs for six weeks. Last year we had 330 kids participate. It's been pretty steady each summer."

Corcoran explained that Moa Mahe, President of Present Hawaii and publisher of Kaleo: Koolauloa News in Hauula Kai Center, has donated a former tour van worth approximately $10,000 as the bookmobile; and Louis Prescott, owner of Prescott Car Clinic in Hauula, is coordinating repairs and renovations to the vehicle. The library has accumulated funds for the project from Turtle Bay Resort and The Friends of Hawaii Charities.

"We're also looking for carpenters to help us build the book shelving inside the van. They have to be canted at a 15-degree angle so when the vehicle moves, the books don't fall off the shelves," she continued, adding Kahuku Library will pattern its bookmobile after the blue Hawaii Literacy one that's also parked at the Hauula center.

"We think this is a perfect opportunity to lend help to the community," said Mahe. "When Fran approached us, we were very open to the idea. We'd like it to be a benefit to Koolauloa. I applaud the efforts of Fran and others who are doing a good job getting resources to the community."

"I also think what Fran Corcoran is trying to do is a wonderful thing for the community," Prescott said. "She's trying to make reading more accessible. Some of the things she's trying to do requires specialized help, so I'm coordinating that."
"I'm sure it will be a good connection to the community," agreed Corcoran. She said she and others at the library would drive the bookmobile because "we have no funds for additional staff."

Moa Mahe (left), whose Hauula-based company
has donated a van to Kahuku Library to use
as a 'new' bookmobile

Corcoran explained the proposed media production center grew out of an idea "to celebrate the library's 40th birthday this November 18th. The focus originally was innovative, with a school library, public library and media production area that served the community, teachers and students. People remember coming here and having posters and banners made. We did our own videotaping. It was a very active aspect of the library back then." She added "one of the first budget crunches" forced the media lab to close. That space is now used as a conference area.

"I'd like to reconstruct that aspect of the library with digital media services to help preserve historical data. I'd like to have a way for people to be in the digital age to use what they have, to be a production center again."

Corcoran said she anticipates getting help from the main branch of the State Library system. "I'm also applying for a grant from OHA [the Office of Hawaiian Affairs], and I'm applying for a grant from the Friends of the Library Hawaii, as well as our local Friends of the Library Kahuku group. Out of that we should be able to get some of the equipment we need."

She stressed, however, she still needs to get final approval for the media center initiative to move forward.

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