Digital upgrades boost state’s libraries

In its bid to remain relevant in the digital age, Hawaii’s library system appears to be making some gains, new figures show.

Circulation of e-books and digital audiobooks statewide grew by 51 percent in the 2012 fiscal year, which ended June 30, because of growing demand and a larger collection.

Wireless Internet, introduced at all libraries this year, is growing in popularity and appears to be drawing in younger people.

Library computers are also well used, with the total number of Internet sessions way up.

Circulation of books, DVDs, CDs and other materials is down for a fourth straight year, but the decline is relatively small, just 1 percent compared with 2011.

Taken together, the numbers are spurring state Librarian Richard Burns to be decidedly optimistic about the future of libraries in the state, despite a tough fiscal situation and gloomy predictions nationally about the demise of libraries.

Burns said Hawaii libraries are fixtures in their communities and, while they may change with the times, they aren’t going anywhere.

“Our print collections are still well used, and people are still coming to the library to use our computers,” he said.

On a recent day at the Hawaii State Library downtown, every computer was in use, and a handful of people were waiting for a vacancy.

At one computer Zai­nab Holliday, 43, was checking email for her child care business and also planned to catch up with friends and family on the mainland.

The Nanakuli resident said she has a few complaints about the computers. For one, there aren’t enough of them.

“They’re very busy,” she said, adding she sometimes waits as long as an hour.

Holliday also complained about the price of printing — 20 cents per page — and said the speed of the Internet at some libraries leaves much to be desired.

But, she added, she appreciates being able to use a computer and search the Internet for free.

Nearby, resident Lisa Remy waited for a few minutes before a computer was available.

The 55-year-old, who regularly uses the library’s devices, said the service allows her to take care of personal business and connect with friends.

“It’s really great,” she said.

State libraries are trying to improve services and attract new users even as they grapple with tight finances.

In the last three years, the 50-library system has received no funds from the Legislature for new books, Burns said. To buy new materials, it has used fees from DVD rentals and fines, which usually add up to $2 million.

About 10 percent of that will go to e-books this fiscal year, double what was spent in fiscal year 2012.

While digital materials still represent a fraction of all items checked out, Burns said he recognizes e-books are popular and that demand will continue to grow as more people buy readers and tablets.

Circulation of e-books and digital audiobooks — the total number of checkouts — hit 137,308 in fiscal year 2012, up from 90,873 the year before and just 30,652 in fiscal year 2008.

By comparison, circulation of books, DVDs, CDs and other physical material was at 6.79 million in the 2012 fiscal year, from 6.86 million a year earlier and 7 million in 2007-08.

Another big push at libraries, Burns said, has been increasing Internet access.

With grants, the system was able to buy an additional 140 computers for libraries statewide and replaced about 500 older models.

With the new devices, the number of Internet sessions logged in fiscal year 2012 grew to more than 600,000, up 24 percent from the year before.

Also thanks to grants, libraries began offering wireless Internet in April, and are now logging about 10,000 wireless sessions a month.

Susan Nakata, manager of the library development services section, said the Wi-Fi appears to be drawing in younger library patrons. The new computers are popular, too, she said, adding that even with the additional terminals, people have to wait.

In the economic downturn, she said, the computers have become lifelines for many job seekers, and librarians have been helping computer users with such things as online job applications, résumé assistance and setting up email accounts.

“We’ve been focusing a lot of our efforts on trying to get people back to work,” Nakata said.