Check Out Renovated Bookstore At Kaneohe Library
After being closed for two months, the basement bookstore at Kaneohe Library is back in business with a clean new look and plenty of space for Windward bargain hunters to browse.
“It’s been cleaned from top to bottom,” said Friends of Kaneohe Library pres ident Laurel Zeri.
“The shelving has been arranged to create wide, uncluttered aisles, and the whole store is now handicapped accessible.”
The children’s area also was redesigned after research revealed that kids are more attracted to books if they’re displayed at child eye-level.
The group still seeks
more helping hands to man its desk and sort donations of books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, etc., during operating hours, which are 1-4 p.m. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 7:45 p.m. Wednesdays and 1-3 p.m. Fridays. To volunteer, call 247-4918.
An especially busy time is Sunday afternoons, added Zeri who, like most of the Friends, is a lifelong reader and big fan of libraries. “When I was in first grade and learned how to read,” she recalled, “it felt like that was when my life began.”
“It’s so rewarding, helping a child find that perfect book,” added FKL’s publicity volunteer Diane Santiago, an avid reader of everything but e-books.
Kaneohe branch manager Cynthia Chow can’t say enough about the vital role played by the Friends and their bookstore funds. “Amazing” is one word. Below are some more.
“The Friends of Kaneohe Library funded the innovation of our obsolete bookmobile garage,” Chow pointed out, “transforming it into a useable room where we host monthly Movie Nights with free popcorn (also from FKL). Our presentation of Frozen was standing-room-only, required an addition showing.”
As at most budget-strapped libraries, the Friends fund and help with special programs, speakers, furnishings, carpets, office supplies, equipment, customized book bags, book mending and inventory.
“The volunteers themselves are a wonderful group of people,” Chow added.
“It’s rare that you will find reliable and dedicated individuals … They keep us running.”
