Nearly six months after the Pearl City Public Library closed for major renovation work, branch Manager Vicky Bowie says she is eager to finally reopen on Monday.
The $1.3 million project at the 23,500-square-foot library on Waimano Home Road included re-flooring, re-roofing and other improvements. Bowie said a major part of the project was fixing the ceiling, which leaked in the past.
"I was dreading the closure before we closed," said Bowie, who has served as the library’s manager since 2010. "But it’s one of those that had to happen."
Since opening in 1969, the library, one of the largest public ones on Oahu, has served hundreds of residents every year, offering services such as the popular summer reading program for kids, teens and adults. Bowie said that during a typical week last year, staff counted 2,400 walk-in patrons and 168 who called the library, adding that the children’s summer reading program has grown to about 500 participants. The teen program garners about 100 participants and more than 100 for the adult program.
Cruz Vina Jr., a longtime Pearl City resident and chairman of the neighborhood board, said he is excited the library will reopen, pointing out that it is a vital resource to the community.
"I’m really impressed with what they did with the library," said Vina, who took a tour of the library Friday. He added that the neighborhood board previously met at the library for about five years. But he said he still thinks the library needs additional parking stalls.
Bowie said she hopes they can expand the parking lot when funds become available.
Last year the new Aiea Public Library, about 4 miles from the Pearl City library, opened on the site of the old Aiea Sugar Mill. The former library on Moanalua Road closed after nearly 50 years of serving patrons. The project was about 20 years in the making as lawmakers and community members pushed for a larger library with more parking.
The Pearl City library will resume normal hours: noon to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
