A good read
COEUR d’ALENE — In 1981, Fay Sweney joined the Coeur d’Alene Public Library board of trustees.
For the next 42 years, she remained on it. That’s eight 5-year appointed terms.
Finally, this book is closing. Sweney’s last day as a trustee will be Sept. 30.
Her reasons for leaving are simple enough. Time to pursue other interests, perhaps travel. And she believes others are ready for their chance.
“There are more people interested in being on the board than there were before. There was a time we’d be out there going, ‘Please,’” she said.
Sweney, on a Wednesday afternoon prior to another board meeting, sat at a table in the library not far from a fireplace with comfy chairs. Light streamed through large windows offering a view of McEuen Field.
This is the same library that opened in September 2007, funded when about 70% of Coeur d’Alene voters approved a $3 million bond in 2005.
The Library Foundation raised another $3.6 million.
Sweney is proud of this library. She believes the community is, too.
“I think of it as a living room for our community. It’s a place where people can come and sit and really enjoy themselves,” she said.
When asked to name the best part of being a trustee, Sweney smiled.
This was an easy one.
“It’s seeing the community come together to support its library," she said.
Over four decades, Sweney earned respect and support from those with clear eyes and open hearts.
Former library director Bette Ammon said she was lucky enough to have Sweney as a trustee for 15 years.
“Attention to detail, absolute commitment and care for the entire community are just a few of the praises I could sing,” she wrote of Sweney. “The current amazing library exists because of trustees like Fay and library services in Cd'A will continue due to her longstanding dedication.”
Michael Priest, library director, wrote that Sweney set the example for conduct as a trustee, taking the role seriously and diligently assessing policy, strategies and the budget.
“She is considerate of what will impact the most people in the community, fostering an environment where everybody who walks through the doors feels welcome,” Priest wrote. “It should always be remembered that Fay served on the board during the monumental effort to fundraise for, build and transition to the beautiful, purpose-built library facility at 702 E. Front Ave. Most of all, she is a warm, genuine, down-to-earth person who is a pleasure to work with and to know.”
Sweney's love of libraries can be traced to her childhood in Bartlesville, Okla., where she had access to three libraries — school, church and community.
“My first freedom as a child that I remember, getting to do something by myself, was to get on my bicycle with a big basket and ride to the library,” she said.
She would leave with that basketful of books about the adventures of the Hardy Boys and the Bobbsey Twins.
“Being at the library was always just a real special experience for me,” Sweney said. “I like going back and seeing it now.”
When Sweney joined the board in 1981, the library was in a brick building at Seventh and Lakeside.
In 1986, it moved into a larger space at Second and Harrison. But it didn't take long to realize it wasn’t big enough.
“I think we were all a little surprised when we moved in how tight it was already,” she said.
Still, they stayed for 21 years.
She said it was an “amazing moment” when the bond to build a new library passed in 2005.
“People continued to donate to this library, even after the bond passed," she said.
While some argue libraries are no longer necessary in an age when you can search online for information you need, Sweney disagrees.
She believes libraries remain invaluable.
She points out the library is a place with trained staff to help the public access information. It has connections to libraries across the nation.
“I think libraries have been reinventing themselves every decade with the technological changes,” she said.
If she could offer advice to her replacement, Sweney said it would be that they understand the role of a library trustee.
Trustees have one employee — that being the director.
“Our role is to set policy, not to meddle in the management of a library,” she said.
She takes pride in knowing she rarely missed a meeting but regrets that the board violated open meeting laws in 2020 and 2021 when its members all met virtually during COVID.
The board later learned that their Zoom-only meetings weren’t legal. At least one trustee had to be physically present at a designated meeting site.
In January 2022, trustees approved a motion to declare that 34 action items approved at Zoom meetings from July 29, 2020, to Dec. 1, 2021, were “null and void.”
They then, quickly, approved another motion to approve those same 34 action items.
Sweney said she felt terrible that trustees had violated open meeting laws because she had taken part in an online seminar by Attorney General Lawrence Wasden that focused on public records and open meetings.
“That was my worst moment," she said.
While the board sometimes was angrily criticized by a few citizens during its meetings over books allowed in the library, Sweney and other trustees remained calm.
“If you get into an argument, you've lost it,” she said.
"You have to assume good intentions when you’re dealing with other people," Sweney continued. "You’ve got to act in a way that allows other people to think you have good intentions."
Sweney said she will miss the companionship of her fellow four trustees and working with the library director.
“It’s just a pleasure to know them,” she said.
She looks back on her 42 years on the board as a gift.
“It’s so rewarding to have been a part of it,” she said.
The city of Coeur d’Alene is accepting applications for her post, which is appointed by the mayor and City Council.
Applications are due by Sept. 1.
Sweney won't be staying home and reading books. She plans to keep up with library happenings.
“I’m just going to be so nosy,” she said, laughing.
And this time, she doesn’t promise to keep quiet.
“It will be hard to keep my mouth shut about something if things start going south,” she said.
