The Psychologically Healthy Workplace 

A sense of humor is essential when you work at the Kailua Library, winner of the government category of the Healthy Workplace Awards. They laugh a lot, listen to each other, maximize each other's strengths, know each other's shortcomings, and try to develop one's weaknesses. Talk about a healthy environment, they celebrate birthdays, share food news articles and cartoons, decorate for holidays and believe doing a good job starts from the inside out. They even use "Good Job" slips that they give to each other that say, "Thanks for enhancing Kailua Public Library's quality customer service by…"

An integral part of the community, in order to do more with the resources they have, they regularly partner with many other organizations like the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Pizza Hut, Rotary Club of Windward O'ahu, WCCC, and the LaniKailua Outdoor Circle. To ensure the public gets the best service possible and has the staffing to get it done, they coordinate over 60 volunteers who give time and talents to come work in the Friends of the Kailua Library bookstore, to be on the Friend's Board, to count for Count Week, help with summer reading programs and participate in family-oriented activities every week.

Employee excellence is recognized with a Team of the Year, Librarian of the Year, Sustained Superior Performance Awards, and for service years. Everyone's cross-trained to help out as needed, with special emphases given to Young Adult and Children's Services, and new information technologies.

From the Office of the State Librarian down to the Kailua Library's Manager's Office, there is an open door policy. There is also the "REACH" program to provide confidential, professional counseling services to State employees experiencing personal problems that are affecting job performance.

"Employees are here," said Branch Manager Sandy Akana, "because they choose to be here. When they do a job, they do it with aloha."