Liberty Lake trustees recommend city council approve dissolution of Cooperative Information Network

The Liberty Lake Municipal Library Board of Trustees voted 5-0 on a recommendation that the City Council approve dissolving the Cooperative Information Network, or CIN, effective Sept. 30, 2025.

Library staff member Jandy, who presented the item, told trustees that the CIN "is a system of libraries where we share materials back and forth" and that the group is seeking a new name, Inland Northwest Libraries. Jandy said the review of paperwork found that "according to the state of Idaho, the Cooperative Information Network doesn't exist as it should," and that the simplest remedy is to dissolve the existing consortium and reform it.

The trustees' recommendation is advisory: the board must forward the recommendation to the City Council because the board is not an approving authority. Jandy said the CIN membership will take a formal vote at its next meeting on July 16 and that the planned dissolution date aligns with the consortium's fiscal-year end. She also said "further details on a reformed consortium will be brought to the council as more information becomes available." The board noted that the dissolution is not immediate and that services shared through CIN are expected to continue through the transition.

Trustee Michael moved the recommendation and Trustee Eric seconded it. The chair called for a show of hands, and the motion carried 5-0 to recommend that the City Council vote to dissolve CIN effective Sept. 30, 2025.

Trustees asked staff to make clear to the City Council that the recommended dissolution is the first step and that the intent is to re-establish a successor consortium. Jandy said she will present the city’s recommendation at the CIN meeting and return to the council with details about the reformed consortium when they are available.

The board noted historical context that Liberty Lake joined the CIN in 2012. No members of the public spoke during the meeting.