A steady stream of donors is answering the call for help to keep all of Hawai'i's 51 libraries operating, but more is needed to reach a $3 million goal announced by The Friends of the Library of Hawai'i yesterday.

The Friends initiated a statewide campaign asking each person to give just $3 so no library has to close. Even before the official launch, money began pouring in $20 at a time — raising more than $1,500 in the first day of the campaign, as well as the hopes of The Friends of the Library.

"It's a very good sign," said Byrde Cestare, executive director of Friends. "Libraries are such quiet, unassuming places and people generally don't stop to think about their public library until it's put on the chopping block."

Faced with a $6 million budget cut, the state public library system in July presented a plan to close five libraries in rural and Neighbor Island communities. Last month, state Librarian Richard Burns offered a different plan that called for some library branches to close intermittently and service hours to be cut back, but no libraries would be closed.

Money raised in the campaign will go toward library operations and meeting the shortages.

Cestare said the average donation has been $20 but checks for $100, $200 and $250 have come in.

"Checks were handed to us at the press conference and people have been walking in the door today who heard it on the morning TV and radio shows," she said.

Individual libraries are also conducting campaigns and The Friends hope to fill the gap for smaller communities so that all 51 libraries remain open, Cestare said.

"We know there are communities who are able to generate more funds than others and we just want to make sure there's equity as far as keeping every single library open, she said.