Cd'A library eyes more partnerships

COEUR d’ALENE — Increasing partnerships, not spending more money, is how the Coeur d’Alene Public Library is looking to offer more to its users.

“Libraries can offer a broader range of services to the public, at a lower cost, by banding together,” said Michael Priest, library director. “Many neighboring libraries across the U.S. form consortiums to provide seamless library services across a wider region.”

At present, Coeur d’Alene Public Library does not have any formalized partnerships with area libraries beyond the Cooperative Information Network, which consists of 15 separate entities in North Idaho and Eastern Washington.

“Though we are linked in many ways through the consortium, each library still retains its independence and is dedicated to serving its taxpaying population,” said, Priest, who recently outlined partnership possibilities to the library board.

The Coeur d’Alene library largely restricts its educational and recreational programming activities to within city limits. This includes programs held at the library and offsite outreach to schools, day care and senior facilities and at community events.

Partnerships could allow libraries to collaborate with local libraries on events, projects or groups.

Priest said the Community Library Network has more leeway on where it provides services. Its bookmobile service and partnerships with certain Coeur d’Alene School District locations are beyond the Coeur d’Alene Library’s capacity “and add great value to city residents. Sharing resources meets our commonly aligned goals, whether it be through CIN or on an ad hoc basis,” Priest wrote.

He said being part of CIN allows Coeur d’Alene Library patrons to use any branch within the network, either by stopping in or by ordering materials through the online catalog. It also extends to the shared resources the consortium purchases, such as the popular eBooks and eAudiobooks available through the Libby app.

“They are probably our best partners. They’re our best friend, if you like,” Priest said.

He offered an example of a Coeur d’Alene patron vacationing at Priest Lake who could stop by that library and check out materials. If the patron needed those materials past their vacation, they could return them to Coeur d’Alene Library once they are done. Priest said they would check the materials in and send them back to Priest Lake via their shared courier system.

Priest said communication between the libraries remains important with or without frequent collaboration.

He said, for example, that Coeur d’Alene library Communications Coordinator JD Smithson recently met with her counterpart at the Community Library Network, Cassie Robertson, for a discussion about job expectations and how they can foster relations between the two libraries. The library network's district includes libraries throughout the rest of Kootenai County, beyond Coeur d'Alene, and Pinehurst in Shoshone County.

“There are other opportunities that arise to collaborate on,” Priest told the board.