Hawaii State Public Library System February 2009 Support Your Your Tax Donation Buys Books nnual donations to the Hawaii Public Libraries State Public Library System Be a Library Advocate (HSPLS) via a check- “Quotable Quotes” A off box on State tax he Hawaii State Public Library System forms topped $99,000 in (HSPLS) has received an additional 2% “Business in HSPLS 2008. This record amount budget cut, and more cuts are expected. If Libraries continues to enabled HSPLS to purchase our budget is cut any more than the 10% the increase,” said State additional copies of children’s books and Governor and the Board of Education have Librarian Richard Burns. a variety of adult books published about T proposed, we will be forced to close libraries and “Virtually every statistic Hawaii, which benefited library users of lay off staff; there is simply nowhere else to cut. we track has increased all ages statewide. We need our Library Advocates (those who love in comparison with last “We would like to remind Hawaii’s public libraries) to once again show their support year. Circulation state- taxpayers of this convenient way to sup- during this legislative session. wide during the first six port their public libraries and thank them We need you to write letters, send emails and months of this fiscal year for their support,” said State Librarian faxes to your state legislators to let them know how Richard Burns. you or your family have benefited from, and been has increased five percent, Since the check-off box was added enriched by, services and programs provided by library visits and internet to tax forms four years ago the total Hawaii’s public libraries, and the negative impact use have gone up and we amount donated to HSPLS is more than closing your library will have on yourselves and are seeing our patrons in- $340,000. Taxpayers are able to make do- your community. creasingly turning to their nations of $2.00 from an Individual Tax Here are some helpful tips on how you can public libraries as an Return and $4.00 from a Joint Return. become an effective library advocate: essential • Identify yourself as a constituent and coping and Tax Forms Available share which public library you and your recovery family use. resource • State your message. Let your elected at Libraries officials know how important the library during these is to you, and that you need them to work difficult eed tax forms? Public libraries to keep Hawaii’s public libraries open and times.” statewide will serve as distribution operating in our communities. outlets for Hawaii State tax forms, • Be specific. State how your library closing will affect you and your family. thanks to a continuing partnership N • Write from the heart. Provide a personal story and focus on the people who between the Hawaii State Public Library depend on library services. Share real life stories of how the library makes System and the State Department of a difference in the lives of constituents and what will be lost if your library Taxation. closes. Library staff will supply the forms, • Be brief – one page is easier to read, and will more likely be read. but are not trained to assist with tax ques- • Include your name, mailing address, email address and telephone num- See Tax Forms, back page ber to allow your legislator to respond to you. Mark Your Calendars Here are the links, email addresses, phone & fax numbers you will need: Directory of State Representatives - http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/ Feb. 14 -16 – Presidents Day Holi- members/members.asp day; for public service hours visit www. House Education Committee (includes Public Libraries) – http://www.capitol.hawaii. librarieshawaii.org or call your local gov/site1/house/comm/commEDN.asp library. See Support Libraries, back page 2 • Holo I Mua • February 2009

Email [email protected] Tax Forms, from front page Phone 808-586-6510; fax 808-586-6511 Directory of State Senators - tions. For assistance, call the Department http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/sen- of Taxation’s Tax Information Line: 587- ate/members/members.asp 4242 on Oahu; from Neighbor Islands, Senate Education and Housing Com- call toll-free at 1-800-222-3229. For the mittee (includes Public Libraries) – hearing impaired: call 587-1418 on Oahu; By Hawaii State Library Children’s Librarians http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/sen- from Neighbor Islands, call toll-free at ate/comm/commEDH.asp 1-800-887-8974. Telephone lines will be Ron Hirschi, Yuko Senate Education and Housing Commit- open Monday-Friday from 7:45 a.m. to Green (Illustrator) tee Chair: Norman Sakamoto (D-15th) 4:15 p.m., except on State holidays. Visit WINTER IS FOR Email [email protected] www.state.hi.us/tax for more information. WHALES, A BOOK Phone 808-586-8585; Fax 808-586-8588 Need state tax forms from other OF HAWAIIAN Senate Education and Housing Commit- states? Visit www.librarieshawaii.org, SEASONS tee Vice-Chair: Michelle Kidani (D-17th) under “Catalogs,” select “E-Databases,” (Preschool-Gr. 2) Email [email protected] scroll down and choose “LegalForms,” Explore the seasons of the islands Phone 808-586-7100; Fax 808-586-7109 an online database from Gale Cengage through the behavior patterns of the Additional information will be Learning. Click on “Tax Forms,” then humpback whale, whose arrival an- posted on the HSPLS website at www. under “State Tax Forms,” select the ap- nounces the coming of winter. A lift-the- librarieshawaii.org. If we can be of any propriate state name. flap book filled with factoids about each assistance or if you have any questions, Do you need Federal tax forms? season’s plants and animals. please contact your local library or the Many public libraries will serve as distri- Library Development Services Section: bution outlets for Federal tax forms. Call Stephanie Feeney phone 808-831-6878; email: lds@librar- your local library to find out if they will SUN AND RAIN: ieshawaii.org. be distributing Federal tax forms or for EXPLORING SEA- an alternate library nearest you. SONS IN HAWAII In addition, you can obtain Federal (Preschool-K) tax forms via the “LegalForms” database Colorful photographs or by visiting the Federal IRS website of local children, to print or download forms: www.irs. plants, places and ustreas.gov/formspubs/index.html. Select events reveal the subtle differences be- forms and publications by any one of tween wet and dry seasons in Hawaii. the many search strategies listed. This website also includes other Federal tax Graham Salisbury information. NIGHT OF THE HOWLING DOGS (Gr. 4-8) Stacie Kanno, 2008 Public Librarian Based on an actual of the Year and Kapolei Public Library Manager (1st row, 2nd from left), was event in 1975, a group honored Jan. 28 by the City Council, of boy scouts camping City & County of Honolulu, and pre- Holo I Mua (move forward, advance) on a peninsula off the sented with an Honorary Certificate is published monthly by the south flank of Kilauea by Council Chair Todd Apo (standing Hawaii State Public Library System find their survival next to her). Other Council members Library Development Services 3225 Salt Lake Blvd., Suite 205 skills unexpectedly tested when they (counterclockwise from left) in the photo Honolulu, Hawaii 96818 experience an earthquake followed by a are Donovan Dela Cruz, Charles Djou, Tel. 831-6877 / Fax 831-6882 tsunami. (A “2009 Nene Award Recom- Nestor Garcia, Duke Bainum, Rod Website: www.librarieshawaii.org mended Booklist” title; for more titles Tam and Gary Okino. Also honored Richard Burns, State Librarian was Peggy Ann Pavao, 2009 Leeward Paul H. Mark, Editor visit: http://nene.k12.hi.us.) District Teacher of the Year from Kapolei Middle School. Board of Education: For info. visit: www.boe.k12.hi.us Support Libraries, from front page Garrett Toguchi, chairperson Milestones: Library Anniversaries Karen Knudsen, 1st vice chairperson House Education Committee Chair: Roy Dr. Lei Ahu Isa, 2nd vice chairperson th Best Wishes and Congratulations to: Janis Akuna Kim Coco Iwamoto M. Takumi (D-36 ) Dr. Eileen Clarke Carol Mon Lee Email [email protected] Bond Memorial Public Library (Big Mary J. Cochran John R. Penebacker Phone 808-586-6170; fax 808-586-6171 Island), 80 years on Jan. 26, 2009 Maggie Cox Herbert Watanabe Hana Public & School Library (Maui), Breene Harimoto Jonathan Allen, House Education Committee Vice-Chair: 25 years on Jan. 14, 2009 Donna Ikeda student representative Lyla B. Berg (D-18th)