LIBRARIES: Real victims are the patrons

Community Library Network chair Tom Hanley recently published a My Turn column in which he claimed that other libraries in the Cooperative Information Network had voted to “boot out” the CLN. He casts the CLN as a victim, suggesting that CIN libraries chose to sacrifice shared services rather than accommodate the CLN’s efforts to impose restrictions on minors — regardless of the individual policies of other libraries or districts.

In reality, the decision to dissolve CIN was made by 11 of the 13 member libraries. This overwhelming majority cited serious concerns, including threats of legal action from the CLN and the breakdown of the cooperative spirit that made the network functional in the first place. The consortium is now officially dissolved. Whether it can or should be reconstituted is a question for another day.

The real victims here are the patrons — both within and beyond the CLN — who are losing access to shared library services. CIN patrons are paying the price because their boards chose to stand by their policies and principles, particularly around intellectual freedom and local control. CLN patrons are suffering as well. At a recent CLN board meeting in Harrison, three patrons spoke during public comment — all expressed concern about the loss of CIN. Likewise, a recent focus group at the Post Falls Library revealed similar dissatisfaction with the decision to dismantle the cooperative.

This isn’t about one network booting out another. It’s about one member trying to dictate terms to the rest — and the others refusing to compromise their values.

MICHELLE LIPPERT

Post Falls