Page 4 - Alexa Eccles News Today

Community Library Network trustees unanimously approved accepting $42,256.90 in urban renewal district funds during a special meeting Friday at the Post Falls Library. At the same meeting, the board majority — Chair Rachelle Ottoson, Vice Chair Tom Hanley and Tim Plass — diminished funding for the network by the same amount, despite objections from Trustees Katie Blank and Vanessa Robinson and several words of caution from Library Director Alexa Eccles.

Community Library Network Director Alexa Eccles read an overview of censorship as provided by the Idaho Commission on Libraries as she and the board of trustees held a special meeting Friday morning. "Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons, individuals, groups or government officials find objectionable or dangerous," she read. "It is no more complicated than saying, 'Don't let anyone read this book or buy that magazine or view that film...

Last week was another busy one for Community Library Network trustees.

The Community Library Network budget was finalized Tuesday by trustees.

Community Library Network trustees heard from about a dozen community members during their regular meeting Thursday, which followed a series of special meetings during which no public comment was permitted.

The Community Library Network's general fund expenditures for fiscal year 2022 were $4.967 million. The average daily expense for the network is $13,610, based on the 2022 numbers.

The Community Library Network hired two attorneys and fired one all in one day.

The Community Library Network hired two attorneys and fired one all in one day.

The Community Library Network is over $200,000 in the hole and has until the end of the month to agree on how to fix it. Tom Hanley, Rachelle Ottosen and Tim Plass want extreme budget cuts that would include reducing staff, eliminating programs, cutting hours, possibly closing some libraries, delaying purchase of outdated equipment and zero tax increases. Director Alexa Eccles explained that it will be nearly impossible to make enough cuts to balance the budget. Accepting a tax increase with les...

Community Library Network district manager, Alexa Eccles, stated at a recent special trustee meeting that the smaller libraries (Harrison was mentioned) might be closed and other locations may have reduced hours in order to balance the 2024 budget.