Opinion by Tom Hanley, Community Library Network Trustee
Yes—people still do use libraries. In fact, over 56,000 visits were made to our local Community Library Network (CLN) in just January and February of this year. Who has oversight of our local libraries? By Idaho code § 33-2715, our board of trustees which consists of five elected members oversees our libraries. The majority of the board is comprised of individuals “recommended” by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC). Unlike the North Idaho Republicans, a RINO (Republican In Name Only) group in my opinion, the KCRCC is part of the official Republican party of Idaho.
I was a KCRCC–recommended candidate in 2023, and after nearly two years in office, I am happy to inform the voters of what this board has actually accomplished, and what I see on the board’s immediate horizon. The following are a few of the board’s deliverables:
- Disassociated from woke American Library Association
A cost-saving measure, and to sever CLN’s ties to an organization the board views as a primary purveyor of material inappropriate for minors. - No tax increase for fiscal year 2024; only 1% for 2025
With the exception of 2 COVID years, the prior boards approved the maximum 3% increase for 8 of the previous 10 fiscal years. - Increased Staff Compensation and Benefits
Approved a generous staff pay increase without raising taxes. Converted several part-time jobs into full-time positions, enabling employees greater opportunities for advancement and access to benefits. - Removed CLN Employment references to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
DEI is seen by many as a form of discrimination. Instead, the new employment policies favor the promotion of meritocracy and Equal Opportunity Employment. Note: The current board boldly accomplished this in August 2024 (before the presidential election, when doing so was considered taboo). - Hired Conservative Library Director Aligned with Community’s Values
The new Director is supportive and strongly aligned with CLN Board’s goals, reflective of the community’s values and the voting majority. - Implemented an Innovative Minor’s-Focused Materials Acquisition Policy
Restricting the procurement of any children’s materials deemed harmful to minors in compliance with the Idaho Children’s School and Library Protection Act (18-1517B). With these new policies, CLN is leading the way in Idaho. - Created Mature Content Collection areas & new Minor’s Access Card
The outcome permits adult access to all library collections. In this way, if parents wish to allow their minors access to the Mature Content collection, parents may check the materials out for them at anytime. The Minor’s Access Card is a two-tiered system whereby parents may limit their child’s ability to only check out material from the children’s collection, or from the entire general collection, minus the Mature Content Collection.
These new CLN policies and changes have been challenged by some of the same rabble-rousers who disrupted the now infamous Legislative Town Hall last February. Of course, their cries of “book banning” and “loss of parental control” are entirely unfounded. In fact, no books have been removed from the library, period.
Instead, with the creation of the Mature Content Collection, CLN’s libraries are being arranged such that parents will no longer need to worry about their child wandering through a minefield, never knowing what they might stumble upon.
With these changes the library is steadily becoming a safe haven for minors. If a parent wishes that their child have access to material from the Mature Content Collection, the parent is free to check out any book from this special collection and provide it to their child. As long as accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, a child may even access the collection.
I would certainly describe this as parental control!
The issue is no different than a family driving up to a liquor store or convenience store. Even if a parent gave a child permission to purchase alcohol or cigarettes, a store is not permitted to allow the child to make the purchase. This is similar to the controls recently instituted at the library, in compliance with Idaho’s new law.
There are three notable current events at CLN. The first is an existing contract that CLN has with the Cooperative Information Network (CIN). The CIN is a consortium consisting of 16 member library districts comprised of 26 libraries. The CIN recently drafted up a new Joint Powers Agreement which was delivered to the CLN board in March 2025. The board will be negotiating in good faith to ensure any future agreement will be in the best interest of the taxpayers and patrons we represent.
Second, our Library Director Martin Walters is in the early stage of developing a new Strategic Plan—charting CLN’s path forward for the next three years. A part of the plan will include multiple avenues for soliciting community participation. This will likely include community input for desired future programs, consideration for adjustments to business hours, homeschool support, etc. Please remain vigilant for an opportunity to offer your input.
Finally, and of immediate importance, there is a CLN trustee election on May 20. With these important policy developments during the last two years, it is vital to elect a new trustee who will continue this progress. It is toward that goal that I fully endorse and support Victoria Bauman for CLN board trustee. I anticipate that the KCRCC will recommend Victoria, as it did the majority of the current successful, conservative board. If they do, you can be confident that your vote for this vetted candidate will give the board the ability to continue delivering the best library services in Idaho.
