Hawaii’s public libraries need more security to protect patrons and staff from a rise in violence and destruction, officials said. “The staff has faced verbal abuse, knives pulled out on security guards. There’s been spitting, throwing, destruction of library laptops, physical attacks on staff as they tried to leave work,” State Librarian Stacey Aldrich (right) told the Board of Education. The board approved Aldrich’s request for an additional $1 million for security last month, and the proposal needs approval of Gov. David Ige and the legislature.