Public library branch approved for LCHS

COEUR d’ALENE — An expansion of public library services beyond downtown Coeur d’Alene was approved Monday by school district trustees, the final step in a plan previously approved by the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Board and the Coeur d’Alene City Council.

Within the next two months, a new public library branch at Lake City High School’s library will give residents in the growing northwest section of the city easier access to library materials.

Library Director Bette Ammon said the project is modeled on similar branch libraries in public school in Missoula, Mont., where she was the library director before coming to Coeur d’Alene.

The plan is to open Cd’A Library @ Lake City High School when school is dismissed for the day. The high school library will stay open, staffed by JD Smithson, Coeur d’Alene Library Reference Clerk.

Smithson will transport public library materials back and forth, providing books, videos and more for library patrons of all ages. Initially this branch library will be open Monday through Thursday for late afternoon and early evening hours.

“During the summer we expect to be open afternoons with the potential of story times and other programs to promote summer reading,” Ammon said.

The Library Board first considered the creation of a branch library in July 2014 and was encouraged to consider a school/public library partnership by City Councilwoman Kiki Miller, who is the city government’s liaison to the Library Board.

In September 2014, an exploratory committee was formed with representatives from the Library Board, City Council, School Board, Library Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, and other community representatives.

This September, the City Council approved a library budget that included funding a full-time person whose duties would include the branch library.

Ammon said final plans for the branch remain to be determined, but will be based on community needs, comments and concerns raised during the lengthy discussion period.