From: DENWALL_at_aol.com
Please share this information with the CollDv list:
FROM:
Patricia Wallace
Chair, Hawaii Working Group
American Library Association
Social Responsibilities Round Table
Alternatives in Print Task Force
denwall_at_aol.com
The following message has been cross-posted; please
excuse any duplication.
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Here is a summary of the current
situation in Hawaii.
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The Hawaii legislature passed legislation calling
for an Audit of the State Librarians Office for the
past two years and specifically funds pertaining to
the outsourcing contract with Baker & Taylor:
SCR 171 (Senate Concurrent Resolution 171):
Requests that the state auditor do an audit of HSPLS' finances,
and management (including the contract w/Baker & Taylor).
This is not a bill, and does not require that the Governor sign it.
Marion Higa, the state auditor, is compelled to do an audit of
HSPLS, once she receives a copy of this. The legislation includes
a requirement that the state auditor visit all the branch libraries,
and talk with the librarians to obtain information, for the audit.
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The legislature also passed Senate Bill 538:
The purpose of this bill is to require the Board of Education
to take action to ensure the formal involvement of the State's public
service librarians in the selection of books and other library materials.
Specifically, this measure authorizes public service librarians
to select library resources upon the termination of any outsourcing
contract in effect on July 1, 1997. Until that time, this bill requires the
Board of Education to ensure the formal involvement of public service
librarians in the selection of library resources.
The Governor may veto this bill, but has given no
indication of his intention to do so.
He has until June 19th to decide.
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In late February, the Hawaii Board of Education---
which oversees the State Library System (HSPLS),
evaluates the State Library Director, and approves
contracts signed by the HSPLS---appointed an
8-member Blue-Ribbon Panel of lawyers, business
leaders, academicians, and two branch directors to
hold a series of hearings to review complaints about
the execution of the outsourcing contract.
The two major local papers in Hawaii have just
announced that:
"The panel charged with investigating Baker & Taylor's performance
yesterday(Tuesday, June 3) recommended the 51/2-year contract be terminated
by June 30. The panel is expected to release findings to the board at its
June 19 meeting. ...If the board decides to accept or act on the
recommendation, the board will need to consult with the state attorney
general on how to proceed,
Knudsen said. It's possible Baker & Taylor may challenge the state's
decision and possibly sue the state...The board will make a decision by June
30, when an annual review of the contract is scheduled...
"Most panel members agreed the state librarian's decision to give Baker &
Taylor sole responsibility for selecting material for all 49 state libraries
based on unit pricing was a bad idea from the start and has contributed to
the deterioration of collections at Hawaii state libraries....
"Faith Arakawa, president of the Librarians Association of Hawaii, said,
"Selection should be done by the library staff that works daily with the
community and is truly in touch with what the community needs and wants."...
"If the board chooses not to cancel the Baker & Taylor contract, it is
"imperative" that a good part of the materials selection be returned to the
libraries, said panel member Nick Huddleston.
[For full text of article excerpted above, go to:
http://starbulletin.com/today/news/index.html
Honolulu Star-Bulletin--Wednesday, June 4, 1997
"End Books Contract? BOE Cautious---An investigatory
panel says drop it, so Knudsen will seek legal advice"
By Debra Barayuga
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In addition to everything above, the League of Women
Voters was commissioned by a group of library employees
to conduct a confidence/no confidence poll. The group,
called the Coalition for Improved Libraries, is an ad hoc
statewide group of concerned library employees.The coalition's
purpose is to provide a safe venue for all library employees to
express their view of current library management. Approximately
490 ballots were distributed, including 145 non-management
librarians. The rest were to Library aides, technicians, all support
staff, personnel, accounting, and janitorial staff. The results
will go to the Board of Education. Ballots bearing a single
statement: "I have confidence/no confidence in the management
of State Librarian Bart Kane.".....were distributed on March 13th.
Recipients were all asked to send their ballots in stamped,
pre-addressed envelopes to the local chapter of the League
of Women Voters by May 20.....The league recently certified
the results and faxed them to members of the
Coalition for Improved Libraries.....The group will give the results
to the state Board of Education, which oversees Kane's position,
at an their meeting on June 19th. Formal announcement has been
postponed because Bart Kane, State Librarian, conveniently
left town on vacationon May 22 and will not return until around
June 15th. However, a member of the coalition e-mailed me this
message late Thursday, June 5th:
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Results:
84.0% Returned the ballots
81.5% No Confidence
17.0% Confidence
1.5% Returned ballots without voting
There was an excellent editorial in the Honolulu Advertiser today.
It concerns the results of the Blue Ribbon Panel. Final 2 sentences:
Resolving the Baker & Taylor dispute won't be the end of
the board's
obligations, however. It must also review who
is responsible for getting the state into this fix, and whether
we can afford the luxury of keeping them in the public's
employ.
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On June 19th, the BOE is scheduled to:
*Receive the official recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel
*Receive the report of the Coalition for Improved Libraries on the
results of the confidence/no confidence ballot
*Review the job performance of Bart Kane, State Librarian
Final recommendations of the Board of Education regarding what to do about
the Outsourcing contract and whether or not to renew
Mr. Kane's contract are due by June 30th.
Whatever action the BOE decides to take regarding the Baker & Taylor contract
will probably be taken at their June 19th meeting since the end of the fiscal
year is June 30th and they are required to give a10 day notice to B&T.
Notice arriving later than June 29th would lead to an implied renewal of
contract.
I will keep you advised of the ultimate outcome.
Received on Mon Jun 16 1997 - 14:58:42 EDT