As a public library, it is our responsibility to include materials in our collection that meet the needs of all the different people in our community. We strive to have something for everyone. With that in mind, every family is different. What is right for some community members and some families may not be appropriate for others.

It is your role to discuss with your child what is and is not appropriate for them to read, view, and listen to, in keeping with your family’s interests and values. This is why we encourage you to browse the library’s collection together and for you to monitor and discuss the selections your child makes. There are several ways we can help you do that, and they are outlined in this guide.

While library staff members are trained to help children and families with library materials and services, they cannot be responsible for unattended children. Parents and caregivers are responsible for the safety, comfort and behavior of their children while in this public building.

Please see the library’s unattended child policy on p.18-19 of its Policy Manual at https://cdalibrary.org/about/policy-manual/.

Browsing the Library Collection

The collection is organized by age group to give patrons an idea of where they can browse for materials that would be most appropriate. Within the age groups, the collections are separated by format.

The children’s library is on the lower level of the building and contains easy and juvenile materials for children birth to 12:

• Easy materials are intended for ages birth to 5 years and can be identified by the following prefixes on the spine labels: “BB” (board books), “E” (easy picture, graphic novel, audio and nonfiction books, and easy DVDs and Blu-rays) and “EZ” (easy books for beginning readers).
• Juvenile materials are intended for ages 6 to 12 and can all be identified by the spine label prefix “J” (juvenile fiction, audio and nonfiction books, and juvenile DVD and Blu-ray).

The teen area is on the upper level of the building on the north side and contains materials for middle school and high school aged teenagers, generally between the ages of 12 to 18:

• Teen materials can be identified by the spine label prefix “YA” (young adult fiction, graphic novel, audio and nonfiction books). 
• These materials are often more mature than what can be found for 11 and 12-year-olds in the children’s library. For instance, materials for older teens (16 to 18-year-olds) may contain weighty topics, vulgar language, or content of a sexual nature, reflecting the experiences of a more mature audience.

Adult materials are intended for ages 18+ and make up the rest of the collections on the upper level of the building:

• These include fiction, graphic novels, audio and nonfiction books, DVDs and Blu-rays, and video games. 
• The materials often have no prefix on the spine label indicating an audience.

Managing Your Child’s Library Account

As a parent/guardian, you can select the set up that works best for you and your family:

• Every member of your family is welcome to have a library card of their own. However, many families choose to wait until their children reach a certain age before getting a card. Others simply have a single card for the whole family.
• You can log in to your and your child’s account at https://catalog.inlandshare.org/MyAccount/Home/ using each individual library card number and the pin that was set up when you opened the account(s). This will let you see everything that is checked out on that account.
• You can add your contact details to your child’s account. You will receive notifications when items on the account have been placed on hold or renewed. You will also receive notifications when items are overdue or deemed lost. 
• You can link your child’s account to your own library card account. This allows you to pick up items on hold under your child’s account. However, you will still need to log into your child’s account separately to see items they have checked out. 
• You can choose not to monitor your child’s library account, but a parent or guardian will still need to be listed on the account. That person is financially responsible if there are charges for lost items.

Personalized Recommendations

Library staff are here to help you navigate the library’s collection so that you may find something that matches your child or teen’s reading level and interests. We can also take the opportunity to talk about your family’s reading, viewing, and listening values and any subject matter you would like to avoid.

There are a few ways to do this:

• You can visit a library location to speak with a staff person one-on-one.
• You can use the library’s Shelf Help service by filling out the form at https://cdalibrary.org/services/shelf-help/ to indicate your reading preferences.
• Teens can apply for the Teen Book Box subscription service at https://tinyurl.com/cdateenbookbox/ and receive two recommendations each month.
• You can contact us by phone at 208-769-2315 or email at https://cdalibrary.org/locations/email-coeurdalene-library/.

Additional Resources

• The records in the library’s online catalog at https://catalog.cinlibraries.org/ often include subject headings and brief descriptions that may help inform you and your child about a book’s contents to help you find books that fit your family’s needs. If you are having difficulty navigating the catalog, staff are happy to help.
• You can use the database Novelist K-8 Plus (for children’s titles) or Novelist Plus (for all age titles) to find read-alike suggestions at https://cdalibrary.org/explore/book-and-magazine/.
• The library has a wide variety of curated booklists for both children and teens at https://tinyurl.com/cinpublicbooklists/.
• If we do not have an item within the collection that you would like to read, view, or listen to, you can make a material request or request to inter-library loan a title from another system either in-person or through your online account at https://catalog.inlandshare.org/MaterialsRequest/IlsRequests/.

Have More Questions?

Stop by Coeur d’Alene Public Library to talk with our staff! Call us at 208-769-2315 or email us at https://cdalibrary.org/locations/email-coeurdalene-library/.