Eye-Witness Account of Hearings in Hawaii

[Pat Wallace <DENWALL@AOL.COM>]

The following is an account of a recent hearings held by the Board of
Education and the Senate in Hawaii. They are investigating whether
or not deficiencies in Baker  & Taylor's performance in carrying out
their outsourcing contract with Hawaii State Public Library System
are sufficient to cause cancellation of the contract with them.  This
account is from a Branch Librarian in Hawaii and was sent to me
as Chair of The Hawaii Working Group.
******************************************
Subject: Hawaii Developments
To: Hawaii Working Group
Date: Sun, Feb 16, 1997

Board of Education held a press conference on Tuesday.
They stand behind Kane's "Innovative approach to preserving
our libraries."

Thursday night the Senate Committee on Education held
a public meeting to gather information in preparation for a Senate
vote on SB 538.  John Penebacker stood in for Bart KANE. The
idea was to ask Penebacker about certain claims that Bart and
group have been making on re-engineering, outsourcing etc.
Senator Rod Tam asked  Penebacker to speak .  Penebacker
declined.

I am sure that you will see that Bart Kane has little confidence
in the 146 librarians who work in Hawaii's public libraries.  The
problem with outsourcing is "the librarian's fault",  not Kane's or
Baker & Taylor's. I have known Kane for about 10 years.  Seldom
and rarely have I  talked with him.  I have always come away with
the impression that he has little respect for librarians, particularly
the ones who work for him.  Isn't he a great advocate for libraries
and librarians?

It's become apparent that he doesn't understand that this type of
downplaying of the problems within HSPLS - and his arrogance
 - only enrages people, and undermines his credibility.

Norman Fitzpatrick of Kaneohe Public Library gave a very visual
presentation for the cost analysis group.  He showed  examples of
"quality paperbacks."  At least to B&T these are quality paperbacks.
He also showed him how B&T bought duplicate copies of juvenile
paperbacks when we already had the hardbound. There was no
doubt  in anyone's mind that B&T has been dumping unwanted
materials in Hawaii and how we have been unable to get the
materials the public expects, not to mention needs.

        Most of the TV stations were at the public meeting.  The two
major newspapers were there too.  Of course, the problem was
phrased as a problem in Baker&Taylor's performance.  Nowhere
was it addressed that Bart and  wrote a lousy contract, and B&T
only took advantage of it.

Mahalo and Aloha
***********************************************************************