Public libraries have been in the spotlight frequently in recent months in North Idaho and throughout the nation. 

Most libraries in Kootenai County belong to the Community Library Network, while Coeur d'Alene Public Library remains a city library. 

What's the difference and how did the Community Library Network come to be? 

A network of libraries in Idaho cannot be created overnight, nor can it be quickly dismantled.

"Creating a library district takes a lot of time and work by the organizing committee," said Clay Ritter, public library consultant with the Idaho Commission for Libraries.

The Idaho Commission for Libraries is part of the executive branch of state government, governed by the governor-appointed Board of Library Commissioners.

Ritter referred to Idaho Code 33-2713, which outlines the establishment and limitations of library districts in the state.

"Ultimately, it is up to the voters in whatever boundaries there are set to create a district," he said.

Community Library Network 

The Community Library Network is a tax-supported governmental entity that comprises libraries across North Idaho, governed by a voter-elected board. It was created by a vote of potential district taxpayers in 1976. First named the Kootenai County Free Library District, the Community Library Network began operation in July 1977. Initially, services were provided by a bookmobile with staff and office space provided by the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

"Districts can expand through an annexation process," Ritter said. "That is the case with the Community Library Network. Over time, the district has expanded to include different libraries that were originally formed separately, including city and district libraries."

The Rathdrum Public Library joined through general election in 1982. Its library was already housed in a district-provided facility on leased property. The Athol Public Library consolidated by general election in 1984. The following year, the Hayden-Dalton Area Free Library District consolidated by vote of the two boards. This created the Consolidated Free Library District, currently doing business as the Community Library Network. When the district consolidated with Hayden-Dalton Area Free Library District, it inherited a bond passed in 1978 for the Hayden facility, which was paid off in 1991. The district continued operations in the existing facility. 

Also in 1985, the Spirit Lake Community Library consolidated by a petition process. A general election was held in 1994 for the Harrison Public Library to join the network. The Pinehurst-Kingston Free Library District consolidated by a vote of the two boards in 1996.

The Post Falls Library joined the network in 2010 after residents voted to support the inclusion of the city of Post Falls into the boundaries of the Consolidated Free Library District. This site has served as the district headquarters since 2017 and is where most of the network's public meetings take place. The Community Library Network owns the building and its improvements but leases the land from the city of Post Falls. The lease agreement shows the lease amount to be $500 for 30 years, increasing to an annual $550 for the 39th year and again increasing to $605 for years 40 to 49.

In the lease agreement, it is noted the "tenant" agrees not to violate any law, ordinance, rule or regulation of any governmental authority having jurisdiction of the leased premises.

"Tenant may contest the validity of any such law, ordinance, rule or regulation but shall indemnify and hold landlord harmless against the consequences of any violation thereof by tenant," the agreement states.

Idaho actively has 105 public libraries, of which 55 are district, or network, libraries, 47 are city libraries and three found in eastern Idaho are school/community libraries.

City public libraries are overseen by municipal governments. District libraries, like the Community Library Network, are independent taxing districts. School community libraries can no longer be created in Idaho.

"Like many entities, in order to provide better service to their community a library may join a district that is neighboring them or create their own district," Ritter said.

This expands the tax base, which expands the resources available to that library and community, he explained.

"This also allows more people access to the library without having to pay something like a non-resident card fee," Ritter said. "This can increase the hours the library is open, the collection size, ultimately save on staff time and increase programming opportunities for that community.

"All of it depends on the will of the voters and is a local decision," he continued. "The community affected is able to decide for themselves the services and amenities they would like for their community."

The Post Falls Library existed as a chartered public library for 93 years before serious considerations were made to join the Community Library Network.

"We're really struggling to find a downside," then-City Administrator Eric Keck was quoted in a May 26, 2009, Press article, when Post Falls was pondering the future of its city library. 

Lower taxes, better service, more funding and little or no change to existing employees would be anticipated with the merger, Keck said in the article.

When that article printed, it was estimated the owner of a $150,000 home would pay $16.88 less per year in property taxes than they were already paying if the library joined the network; the owner of a $250,000 home would pay $39.37 per year. Fast forward, a home in Post Falls with an assessed value of $479,000 before applying the homeowner's exemption was billed $51.03 in library network taxes for the year in 2022, the equivalent of $4.25 per month.

The director of the library in 2009, Joe Reiss, called consolidation "the future" and said he planned to step down the following spring if the proposal was approved because he said he believed he would be leaving the library in good hands.

"I wouldn't leave otherwise," he said in the article. "This is my last goal for this place. I'm not being forced out. It's time for me to do something else. It's time for the library to have the opportunity to make changes. 

"I can honestly say that this is what's best for the library, and it needs to be a clean break," he said.

What about Coeur d'Alene?

The Coeur d'Alene Public Library, independent of the Community Library Network, was created in 1904. The city of Coeur d’Alene provided a new facility and accepted the responsibility of maintaining the library in 1909 and had over 15,000 members by 1927. The Coeur d'Alene Library is a department of the city of Coeur d’Alene. Its board of trustees is appointed by members of the City Council and it is funded by city taxpayers, funds raised by the library’s foundation and donations.

"The city of Coeur d’Alene accepted the responsibility of maintaining the library over 100 years ago," Coeur d’Alene Public Library Communications Coordinator JD Smithson told The Press. "Only the qualified voters of the city can enact changes to this arrangement."

Although not in the Community Library Network, the Coeur d'Alene Public Library is connected to the network and more than a dozen separate libraries through the Cooperative Information Network, a consortium that provides access to library resources from multiple public and school libraries in the area. Patrons can search its catalog for books and other items and have them sent to the library of their choice for pickup. This includes digital downloads, eBooks and audiobooks as well as downloadable music.

"There are 16 separate members in Cooperative Information Network and, as of right now, there are no plans to combine these entities any more than by the CIN agreement," Smithson said.

How a network falls apart

From Bear Lake to Boundary County and almost everywhere in between, constant happenings are taking place in the landscape of libraries.

"As far as how they are organized or controversies happening, there are some at local levels just like you would find at your local planning and zoning or city council meetings," Ritter said. "Sometimes community members have input to give their local government representatives. What is done with that continues to be a local decision in Idaho."

He said consultants at the Idaho Commission for Libraries strive to help guide local decision-makers in continuing to provide the best service possible to their communities and build their capacity for that service.

"Libraries are an important educational pillar in the community and a cornerstone of the First Amendment to provide access to information and resources for the entire community," Ritter said. "While we are not in any way a regulatory agency, we try to help them find their way by providing resources and training to illustrate best practices and trends in library service."

According to Idaho Code 33-2713, library districts may be dissolved according to procedures followed in their original organization, but only after that district has existed for at least four years. Voters decide whether it should be dismantled. If that decision is made, the board of county commissioners of the home county enters its order to that effect and transmits a copy of said order to the board of county commissioners in any other county affected, and said order shall be made a matter of record. Upon dissolution, all property and assets of the now-defunct library district shall be disposed of by the board of county commissioners of the home county. Receipts from the sale of assets and all unpaid taxes, when collected, shall be first used to retire any indebtedness of the district. Remaining debt is then apportioned to the counties embraced in the library district in proportion to the assessed valuation of each included in the district, and placed in the respective county general expense fund. 

"If, after the application of the tax monies and sale proceeds, indebtedness remains, the board of county commissioners of the home county shall provide for the payment of the remaining indebtedness from special levies certified to each county in proportion to the assessed valuation of each which was included in the district," the code states. "The tax shall be collected by each county and remitted to the home county for payment of the remaining indebtedness."

The ultimate decision on how a library operates is at the local level, Ritter said. The community's only recourse is voting.

"As elected officials, the public can also use appropriate channels to give their feedback to those officials and discuss why a particular issue is important to them," he said. "If someone believes that an entity is violating the law, they should of course report that entity to their county prosecutor as well."

    Harrison Mayor Wanda Irish gives public comment Sept. 8 during a Community Library Network board meeting at the Harrison Library.
  

    Library books are seen on shelves of a Community Library Network earlier this year.