The following is TRL’s response to the union statement regarding the Naselle Timberland Library and the resulting news story, “Timberland Library workers decry Naselle changes”:

This is in response to a misleading and inaccurate statement by AFSCME union representative Mike Boyer, reported in the Chinook Observer on Sept. 30.

One of the core tenets of a public library is providing accurate information to the public. As such, we seek to clarify the misinformation included in the statement and provide additional facts that will clarify this decision.

We agree with the union’s statement that every member of our five-county library service area deserves access to quality library services. However, we believe it is better service and a better use of tax revenue to send our most valuable resource, our staff, to our community members instead of making the community members come to us, which they are not currently doing at the Naselle branch. We have addressed the usage of the Naselle Timberland Library in our recent news release.

To address specific examples from the union’s statement:

Naselle has been staffed three days per week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday — from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a total of 24 staffed hours. Looking at the usage during these hours, it is not likely that the number of tourists coming to the library during staffed hours was high. Tourists are not a priority demographic for our library services.

Individuals unable to verify an address, including houseless individuals, may still attend programs, receive services at pop up library locations and outreach events, and visit the other libraries in Pacific County, all accessible by bus. This is true of the many individuals throughout our service area who may be living far away from a physical library location and unable to provide address verification to acquire a full-service library card.

Regarding the statement that the building would be “empty.” This is not true. The building contains materials, a play area, crafting space, computers and printing services, and programs. Patrons can make an appointment with library staff, or they can call, email, or chat with staff from home or from the library to receive help using any of our services.

Regarding the reference to the Expanded Access Hours (EAH) policy. EAH is not the same as a full-service library, that is correct. A self-service library is a new model, different than a full-service library and different than an EAH library. We are confident that the staff in Pacific County will be able to serve even more people when the library manager no longer needs to schedule two-plus staff for 24 hours a week at Naselle.

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‘We are confident that the staff in Pacific County will be able to serve even more people when the library manager no longer needs to schedule two-plus staff for 24 hours a week at Naselle.’

Regarding this change being harmful to all staff. We disagree. Utilizing a self-service model means we can reassign staff to provide needed library services in our communities where community members are gathering. We have promised not to lay off staff, and we remain committed to finding innovative solutions to ensure that we can keep this promise. This model sets us up to protect staff from budget cuts in the future. Additional, sustainable funding would need to come in the form of a levy lid lift, which could cost up to $500,000 to put on the ballot. Given the post-pandemic economic climate in our rural, largely conservative counties we think it is highly unlikely that a levy lid lift will pass at this time. Absent a levy lift there will come a time when the Board of Trustees will have to make some difficult decisions about where to reduce funding.

Regarding the statement, “We see more money being spent on new positions, including two recent district positions that are not union-represented nor frontline.” In the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, TRL has added 15 new positions (12 are union positions and three are non-represented), of which only one is a newly budgeted position. During this same period, TRL has also reclassified 18 union staff, resulting in wage increases for the employees. No TRL staff were laid off as a result of the change in Naselle, and we remain in open communication with the union about staffing adjustments.

Per state law RCW 27.12.010, “’Intercounty rural library district’ means a municipal corporation organized to provide library service…”. The purpose of a rural library district is to provide library services — not simply to maintain physical branches. While buildings are part of that service, they are not always the most effective or sustainable way to meet community needs.

We hope that this response helps to clarify the misinformation that was previously shared. In the meantime, TRL will continue our efforts to provide equitable, high-quality library services to everyone in our district, regardless of location as we adapt to meet the changing needs of our communities.