For the fifth consecutive year, the school library media specialization in the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Library and Information Science graduate program has been recognized as one of the top 10 programs in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report in its "America's Best Graduate Schools 2012." It was ranked eighth in the top ten. U.S. News and World Report analyzes more than 12,000 different graduate program areas for this special report. Rankings are based on expert opinions regarding program quality and statistical indicators that measure the quality of the faculty, research, and students.

"The ICS department is extremely proud of the five-year sustained record of excellence made by the LIS program's school library media specialization for having the U.S. News and World Report name it in the top 10 out of more than 12,000 different graduate program areas programs nationally," Martha Crosby, Information and Computer Sciences department chair, said in a press release.

The graduates of the LIS Program make up 85 percent of the Hawaii DOE's school library workforce. Several of them have received national recognition. In 2007, Kapolei High School Library, led by Carolyn Kirio and Sandy Yamamoto, was cited as the National School Library Media Program of the Year by the American Association of School Librarians. This year, Kailua Elementary Library was selected as one of 35 exemplary programs across the nation by the AASL, and librarian Darren Tanaka was commended for his innovative approaches to learning.

St. Francis and Hongwanji Mission School were among several schools nationwide to receive a 2011 Capstone Assisting Remarkable Educators grant. The grants are a part of a program by Capstone Digital, developer of personalized literacy environments for students, to help improve literacy in schools. More than 30 schools from 20 school districts across the country have been awarded matching grants, funding dollar for dollar their purchase of myON reader, an online personalized literacy environment developed by Capstone that matches students' interests and reading levels to a recommended booklist of more than 1,300 enhanced digital books.

"We're thrilled to help offset the federal funding many educators were counting on and offer these remarkable schools access to the resources and tools that will provide unlimited reading and learning opportunities for their students," said Todd Brekhus, president of Capstone Digital.

The Makiki Community Library is featured by author Brian Mathews in a March 7 column published by American Libraries, the magazine of the American Library Association. The article's title is "The Little Library That Could."

From the article:
"Inspiring libraries are often the ones with big budgets. They have impressive buildings, enormous collections, and large staffs. The Makiki Community Library in Honolulu, Hawaii, has none of these things, but that doesn’t make it any less remarkable. This small donations-based, volunteer-driven organization effectively executes its deep-seated mission of engaging the community."

Nearly six years after the flood of 2004 devastated the ground floor of Hamilton Library, renovation of the flooded areas of the UH Manoa Library was completed this spring. In late June, the Library's Government Documents & Maps collection, Serials, Acquisitions and Cataloging departments, and the UH LIS program returned to their refurbished homes in the ground floor of Phases I and II. Government Documents & Maps also now are open to the public, and walk-in service is available for the U.S. federal depository collection, the United Nations collection, and Maps, Aerial Photos, and GIS (MAGIS).

A couple of events will celebrate the return to the Ground Floor.

On Sunday, Aug. 22, the UH Manoa Library will host an open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Information on the flood and renovation process will be on exhibit and light refreshments will be served.

On Sunday, Sept. 19, the UH LIS Program will host an open house for all UH LIS alumni to visit the renovated library school. The event, scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m., will include tours of the new facilities and light refreshments. The LIS Alumni Group is also accepting potluck contributions.

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