The state Board of Education last night failed to approve a proposal that would have reduced the public library system's budget by $5.7 million.

The board voted 6-5 in favor of the measure, but seven votes were needed to approve or reject the proposal. For now, libraries will operate as usual, pending the outcome of negotiations between the state and unions that represent library employees.

If spending isn't curtailed, library officials have said, the system will run out of money by May 2010.

The vote last night was on a proposal by state Librarian Richard Burns, who called for the intermittent closure of some library branches and a substantial reduction in public service hours. The plan also included the elimination of 72 vacant job positions and a two-day furlough each month for employees.

Much of the opposition last night came from the board's Neighbor Island members, who argued that any cut in services would hit their public libraries and communities the hardest.

Burns said the vacant positions have traditionally been filled with temporary hires and have allowed many libraries to remain open. When those positions are eliminated, some libraries will be left with only one permanent employee.

Three libraries — Holualoa and Kealakekua on the Big Island and Lahaina on Maui — each have only one permanent employee.

An additional 28 public libraries have only two employees. At those libraries, hours may have to be cut or intermittent closures scheduled if employees become sick, go on vacation or are otherwise unable to work.

Several board members, including those representing Neighbor Islands, oppose the plan, saying rural library branches are being targeted since they traditionally have fewer employees than urban Honolulu branches.

In July, Burns presented a plan to the Board of Education that would have closed five libraries in rural and Neighbor Island communities in response to the cuts.

Because the library system is absorbing nearly a $6 million budget cut to its $30 million budget, they will be asking library users, corporations and foundations to donate whatever they can to prevent major cutbacks at the state's 51 libraries.

The "Keep Your Library Open!" and "Keep the Doors Open!" fundraising campaigns were announced earlier this week by the Hawai'i State Public Library System and the Friends of the Library of Hawai'i. Each entity will conduct its own fundraising drive, and the combined effort is intended to ensure that no library will be closed permanently because of projected budget shortfalls.

The Friends of the Library hopes to raise $3 million by getting 1 million library users statewide to donate $3 each.

The library system will conduct its own fundraising effort by distributing pre-addressed envelopes through the library branches. Patrons may donate any amount they want and designate where they'd like the money to go.

Alex Da Silva, board spokesman, said the board did not include possible donations when they discussed the budget proposal.

"You can't base a financial plan on fundraising," he said.