HAYDEN, Idaho. – As the Community Library Network works through a budget crunch, the number of employees across libraries in Kootenai County are declining.13 part-time staff positions district-wide, seven from the Hayden Lake Library, were notified their last day would be Sept. 24 on Monday.
Josiah Mannion, an employee at Hayden Lake Library, is preparing to say goodbye to seven of his colleagues, friends, at the end of the month. Only 12 employees remain at the Hayden library location.
“There are people who have been here for 30 years that just got told that the end of the month is their last day,” Mannion said.
According to the Community Library Network’s (CLN) interim director, Lindsey Miller-Escarfuller, these layoffs are a result of a 13% budget shortfall for the district’s 2025 fiscal year.
Libraries are for discovering something new, and chances are when you walk into one, there is someone there to help you if you need it. Mannion knows that well – it’s why he loves his job.
“What we do believe in, and our unified in believing in, is that we are here to serve our community,” he said. “And making sure that everyone, no matter who they are, when they walk into the library, they can see themselves.”
While Mannion is still on board at Hayden Lake Library, seven of his colleagues won’t be in just a few weeks. And why the CLN interim director made the announcement on Monday, Mannion said these layoffs are a result of the CLN Board of Trustees decision-making.
“The responsibility lies with the board of trustees, and they’re not done, so if we want to preserve and grow our libraries, rather than chop them to nothing, we have to get a new board in place,” Mannion said.
NonStop Local KHQ did reach out to the board, and the board chair said she knows nothing about the layoffs. Mannion, alongside Naomi Strom, the circulation supervisor at Hayden Lake Library and a member of the steering committee for the Library Alliance of North Idaho, say that’s simply not true.
In a statement, Strom said quote:
“The Community Library Network’s Board of Trustees created the budget crisis, and now they’re trying to distance themselves from the consequences of their actions…. The Board of Trustees are now claiming that the layoffs were not their idea, but they knew exactly what they were voting for when they passed the budget.”
While the board did not comment on the matter, Miller-Escarfuller said quote:
“The decision to lay off staff was not easy and involved a great deal of planning and consideration. We appreciate the contributions staff have made to the library and know they will be missed.”
Mannion knows that sentiment is true. But he’s not optimistic for the future of North Idaho libraries. He said during the next board meeting, trustees are going to vote on a policy that could put all adult books under literal lock and key. The agenda for that meeting, scheduled for Thursday September 19, has not been announced.
“Our current board really has a very narrow vision of who ought to be represented in our libraries,” Mannion said.
Until then, Mannion is reminding those reading of what libraries are meant for and why those who work inside, and who come visit, are so important.
“At their heart, and the reason why books are still the most symbolic of what libraries are about is because it’s about open and unhindered access to information, to points of view, to the world,” Mannion said.
