Library Funding in 2025

MFOL Assists Our Maui County Libraries with Direct Funding for Direct Impact!

The mission of Maui Friends of the Library (MFOL), as an all-volunteer non-profit organization, is to provide support for the public library branches in Maui County — including Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i, the Holoholo Bookmobile— and other libraries. A primary task is raising the money to help finance the acquisition of new materials for each library, sustain subscriptions to newspapers and magazines, and fill in the gaps for community programs and equipment where state funding falls short.

As with the last several years, all branch libraries in Maui County received blanket grants of $10,000 for each branch, and the Holoholo Bookmobile received $12,000. Remember that the Holoholo Bookmobile was purchased with funds raised by MFOL & gifted to the state library system for use on Maui.

The annual funding for each library may be used however each branch manager determines: new books, films, music, magazines and newspapers for their collections; for library programs and/or supplies for programs or special events.

Shaleena Barrios of Lāhainā proudly holds the prizes won by her daughter during Maui's 2025 Summer Reading Challenge - including a gorgeous Mele ‘Ukulele!

Library Projects Funded & Accomplished in 2025

Money from Maui Friends of the Library also help individual libraries with special requests for supplies, equipment, or furnishings which are not covered (or fall short) in their state-provided budgets.

This past year, MFOL was able to provide an additional $53,000 for special requests by the librarians, for library projects, programs, and materials. These include the following specific grants ...

• $17,125 for furniture (benches and white-board tables), signage, and supplies to complete the renovation and refurbishment of the Kahului Library, which had its grand re-opening in July.

• $12,400 to fund the Maui programs during the statewide Summer Reading Challenge in June-July, coordinated with a “Mele” theme. The Summer Reading programs are designed to prevent ‘summer slump’ during school vacations, and to promote reading

  within the family. The funds were used to purchase prizes and craft activity materials for the participants— including a Mele 'ukulele grand prize for each library!

• $9,100 was paid for subscriptions to magazines and newspapers in the library branches and bookmobile, with publications requested by each branch manager.

• $7,875 was granted to help purchase supplies and furniture for Hana, Kahului, Makawao, and Wailuku libraries, which included racks, bookmarks, and items for the children's areas.

• $5,300 for "Wonder Books" for Makawao Library (bound books with a built in audio player for literacy skills).

• $5,000 for the purchase of children's Scholastic books.

• $2,655 for play-scapes for Kīhei Library.

• $2,400 for Holiday celebrations for the staff at each library.

• $1,000 to purchase topographical maps for four of the libraries.

• $600 for an event at Lana'i Library with "Mr. Kneel", a popular literacy-based performer for young people.

PLUS:

• A total of $39,000 was granted scholarship funds to Maui students who are pursuing their graduate degrees in Library & Information Services. Scholarships are given in increments of $3,000 per semester per student.