Excerpts: Today's Hawaii News

[Pat Wallace <DENWALL@AOL.COM>]

http://starbulletin.com/today/news/index.html
Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Friday, June 20, 1997, p 1


Baker & Taylor Book Deal Doomed
A unanimous BOE vote calls for the end of Baker &AMP Taylor's buys for
libraries

By Debra Barayuga and Gregg K. Kakesako

A unanimous BOE vote calls for the end of Baker &AMP Taylor's buys for
libraries

By Debra Barayuga and Gregg K. Kakesako



A blue ribbon panel charged with evaluating the firm's performance
recommended to the board that the contract be terminated on or before June
30......

The panel concluded that Baker &AMP Taylor's performance was deficient, that
the Hawaii State Public Library System has not been well served by the
contract, and that library collections and the morale of Hawaii's librarians
cannot continue to suffer because of Baker &AMP Taylor's poor
performance.......

The state has paid $3.5 million, plus a nonrefundable initial payment of
$730,000 to Baker &AMP Taylor for fiscal years 1996 and 1997. But the company
still continues to be way behind in deliveries, for both fiscal
years 1996 and 1997.......

"The board gave us clear and concise direction, and we will carry out the
board's decision," said John Penebacker, special assistant to Kane.

Upon termination, the library then will have to form a new system of
selection with the input of branch librarians, board member Kelly King, said.
King is also the chairwoman of the Public Libraries committee......

"I expect (the firm) would see the futility in pushing this issue," said
King. "It's not making them look any better" to librarians across the
nation......

The outsourcing contract will be the subject of a panel discussion at the
upcoming American Librarian's Association conference in San Francisco later
this month......
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