MY TURN: The unseen costs: Patrons stand to lose if the Cooperative Information Network dissolves

I write today with deep concern about the impending loss of access to the Cooperative Information Network (CIN), an indispensable resource for countless patrons. While the decision to shutter access to such a vital system may be weighed in terms of potential lawsuits (Cd'A Press, “CLN Trustees hint at litigation … May 16), I urge our community and leadership to consider the broader and far-reaching consequences such a loss will have on individuals, families and our collective well-being. 

The heartbeat of knowledge: What CIN means to patrons 

For decades, the CIN has functioned as far more than a simple repository of books or data; it is a living, breathing web of knowledge that bridges the gap between curiosity and understanding. It connects libraries, educational institutions and information centers, enabling patrons to access a universe of resources well beyond the walls of their local library. 

For students, CIN is a lifeline — offering access to materials that support homework, research projects and a broader worldview. For lifelong learners, it offers pathways to new skills, hobbies and self-improvement. For job seekers, it provides access to materials that can help prepare for interviews, certifications and career changes. For families, CIN supports story times, literacy initiatives and intergenerational learning. To lose CIN is to lose a central artery in the body of community education. 

Quantifying the losses: What will be lost? 

While it is easy to focus on what is visible — rows of books, numbers of patrons, circulation statistics — the real losses are more difficult to measure yet far more significant. 

• Loss of access to a vast collection: CIN gives patrons access to collections from multiple libraries, not just their own. This means that specialized or rare materials, often unavailable locally, become accessible to all. Patrons will lose the ability to request materials from across the network, stunting academic and personal research and limiting intellectual growth. 

• Educational opportunities: Students from kindergarten and beyond rely on CIN for research databases, digital media and interlibrary loans. The loss of CIN means fewer resources for term papers, science fair projects and advanced studies, placing local students at a disadvantage compared to peers in better-connected regions. 

• Digital divide: CIN helps bridge the digital divide, offering digital access to e-books and databases for those who cannot afford subscriptions. Without it, underserved populations — especially in rural or economically disadvantaged areas — will lose their only free gateway to digital information. 

• Job seekers and career builders: CIN offers patrons access to test preparation materials, resume-building guides, online learning modules and career development resources. Job seekers and those seeking advancement will find themselves with fewer tools to compete in a fast-changing economy. 

Stories from the stacks: Real lives, real impact 

Behind the statistics are real people whose lives will be directly affected. Consider the high school student who dreams of becoming a scientist, but whose rural library no longer has access to the research journals essential to fuel that dream. Or the single parent who, thanks to CIN, can learn new job skills through free online resources after putting the children to bed. Imagine the retiree who, with limited mobility, finds companionship and mental stimulation through large-print novels and audiobooks delivered via the network. 

These stories are not unusual — they are the rule, not the exception. Every library, every patron, every community event connected via the Cooperative Information Network is a testament to the unquantifiable value of shared resources and collective learning. 

The economic case: More than just books 

Libraries and networks like CIN do more than promote literacy — they are economic engines for their communities. By providing free access to information, training and technology, they help individuals improve their job prospects, start businesses and contribute more effectively to society at large. Studies have shown that every dollar invested in public libraries returns many times that value in social and economic benefits. The loss of CIN will reverberate through local economies, making it harder for individuals to improve their circumstances and for communities to thrive. 

The erosion of equity and opportunity 

Perhaps most troubling is the threat to equity. Without CIN, the gap between those with access to information and those without will widen. The information-rich will continue to prosper, while others fall further behind. The loss of CIN is not just about losing convenience; it is about eroding the very foundation of equal opportunity that libraries — and, by extension, society — are meant to provide. 

What can be done? 

Contact the CLN board of trustees to show them the costs associated with losing the Cooperative Information Network, including its social, educational, economic and personal impacts. https://communitylibrary.net/board/#board-contact 

I urge decision-makers to look beyond the bottom line, to listen to the stories of those who rely on CIN and to recognize that the strength of our community is measured not by what we save, but by what we stand to lose. 

In closing, let us remember that every lost connection, every unmet need and every unfulfilled dream that results from the loss of the Cooperative Information Network will be counted — not just in numbers, but in lives. If you care about your library and its resources, please join us for the upcoming CIN meeting July 16 at 10 a.m. at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library. Let us act before this loss becomes our legacy. 

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Theresa Birkett is the president for the Library Alliance of North Idaho.