COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Staff layoffs were confirmed Tuesday morning across the Community Library Network locations.
In total, 13 part-time staff members were informed their final day of employment would be Sept. 24.
Interim Director Lindsey Miller-Escarfuller stated in an email to The Press that layoffs are being made in an attempt to make up for some of the network's budget deficit.
The CLN estimates the cuts to staff will save the library approximately $200,000 in fiscal year 2025.
"The decision to lay off staff was not easy and involved a great deal of planning and consideration," Miller-Escarfuller said. "We appreciate the contributions staff have made to the library and know they will be missed."
When asked about layoffs Monday, Community Library Network Board Chair Rachelle Ottosen said she had no information regarding the topic. The Press received no response from Trustee Tim Plass.
Josiah Mannion spoke out of personal concern for his coworkers at the Hayden branch Tuesday and said it has caused “a lot of pain and heartache,” mainly due to a lack of transparency among staff about major decisions.
“These are all employees who are my friends and colleagues,” Mannion said.
Mannion is a circulation specialist and handles IT for the library and said recent restructuring changes had already impacted the way the library’s staff set up over the last few weeks.
“People have been worried over the last couple of months. This has been hanging over everyone's head that something was coming down the line,” Mannion said. “All of these decisions have been made in a vacuum with very little clarity or two-way communication.”
The board unanimously approved a $7.9 million budget in August, agreeing to accept a 1% tax increase allowed by law. In 2024, the board refused a tax increase and adopted a budget of $8.4 million.
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