• Protest library cuts
• State should share responsibility
• Remarks sting mother
• My son is my hero
Protest library cuts
On Nov. 8, the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i held a workshop for all “Friends” affiliates from each of the Hawaiian Islands. This was the first time such a meeting was held and the response was well-accepted as seen by the number of participants who attended.
The “Friends” were fortunate to have state librarian Richard Burns discuss what budget cuts may happen for 2009 and how those cuts may affect each library. We know that this will happen, but what we don’t know is the exact percentage of potential cuts.
The suggested amount from the Hawai‘i State Public Library System is 10 percent which would, at the very the least:
• Reduce the public service hours.
• Eliminate many popular books and materials for youth and young adults.
• Eliminate digital audio and e-books.
• Result in library collections becoming outdated.
Additionally, vacant positions would not be filled and there would be no hiring of substitutes or student help. Our concern is that this changes the impact of the working operations essential to a well-run library.
If the cuts are higher than 10 percent, we lose more staff and even close some libraries. This would have a very negative effect on the library system — one that could be devastating.
In order to have the resources needed to accommodate a variety of needs — literacy, educational and technical — libraries need to be open and fully staffed. They benefit the community in so many ways by:
• Providing story-telling to toddlers and young ones.
• Offering home schooling for all ages.
• Promoting literacy, especially for elementary children.
• Providing Internet access for research and school projects.
• Being a bond for families and the community.
On the Islands, we are in an isolated area with no other libraries available. At the North Shore Library at Princeville, in particular, we are a gathering place for young and old. The library is an investment in our future.
Please support our libraries by contacting your legislators and the governor at governor.lingle@hawaii.gov and ask them to avoid budget cuts if at all possible. If it’s important to you and your family, support your library now.
• Barbara Smith, Friends of the North Shore Library at Princeville
State should share responsibility
My thoughts exactly (“State’s responsibility,” Letters, Nov. 29).
Yes, Mr. Pflueger may had a lot of fault in the overflow of the Ka Loko Dam. But, the dam was also a very old dam. How much did the state and county take concern and care of inspecting the dam’s perimeter and observe how well it would have held back the waters from breaking through that caused damages and taking lives along its path of destruction?
Maybe the state and county in charge of inspecting the dam should be charged for neglect and they too should do some jail time with Mr. Pflueger.
• Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
Remarks sting mother
The letter (“Now I know why,” Letters, Nov. 25) angered me. It misstated the truth about my son, fabricated a story about the wonderful opportunities for him as a person of special needs and stated that the meeting was a waste of time, resources and money.
Orlando, I do not know you and you did not know my son. He was not handicapped and he was not special needs. I won’t take my time and energy telling you about him because you don’t deserve to know this wonderful man — who looks like his father, so vibrant with life, wise beyond his years, loved basketball, who loved and is deeply loved and missed by family and friends — my son.
Each birthday, each Christmas, a wedding that will never be, a family he could have had, a child and grandchild I will not hold.
Obviously you are not as naive as you categorized all of the audience. You know all the answers (why were you there?) with more than 30 years experience and coaching experience.
Your letter trivialized and disrespected each life lost, each family and friend, each teacher, coach, grandparent, mentor, neighbor, each person seeking to help or understand, and those who wanted to be there.
What was a waste was your presence in that room, your time and energy in writing your letter and the space in The Garden Island newspaper that was used to print your letter.
• Solette Perry, Lihu‘e
My son is my hero
This is in response to Mr. Orlando Anaya’s letter, “Now I know why.” Although you appear to be gracious in your comments you have missed the point completely, and appear to be clueless as to the efforts we’re taking to help our community.
Nor does your 30 years qualify you to understand the pain and suffering that some individuals have endured because of the untimely death of a child.
One of the purposes of the meeting was to reach out and give families a sense of hope, of what seems to be a hopeless situation; to reach out and give children tools in which to cope.
We were not there for you, Mr. Anaya, unless you want to be part of something positive.
With respect to my son, working with individuals who have “special needs” does not give you a “first-hand” knowledge to understand the torment of a person suffering from paranoia-schizophrenia.
I couldn’t even imagine what my son went through, even though my wife and I were with him during all those difficult years, and did everything possible to help him.
Even with all of our efforts, we watched the lights and willingness to live go out from his eyes during those most difficult times. I would not wish this on any parent.
And that is why, as a community we want to keep the lights glowing in the eyes of our teens, and to show them a way out of what seems to be an impossible situation.
I welcome constructive criticism, but your comments were insensitive, condescending and irresponsible. And by the way, my son was not handicapped, but was stricken with a disease in which he fought desperately to overcome; and that ultimately took his life.
He is my hero, and will always be my hero.
So, do me a favor, and do yourself a favor; get involved instead of sitting on the sidelines throwing darts at community members who are trying desperately to make a difference.
• Darryl Perry, Chief of Police
