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The role of the library in the city is to be that resource for folks that either it's

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just recreational reading and resources or lifelong learning, but also public spaces

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and access to technology and to meet that broad view of the community that they desire

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to see at the library.

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We have three locations, Northport branch opened in 2006, it is in the Northport shopping

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area up there by Hornbockers and it is very reminiscent of a small town storefront library.

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The main library here obviously full service main library with library administration opened

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in the spring of 2009 and then the Dr. James Carlson library down on 32nd Avenue opened

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in 07, full service branch.

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2024 was a record year for us.

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The real growth in our collection in terms of circulation is e-content, e-audio books

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and e-books, that has just been growing like 25% over year after year.

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I think the Fargo Public Library's role in the community here is providing a safe and

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free place to access information in whatever form that is, whether it's the latest mystery

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novel or using the computers we have here to go online and connect through email or

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applying for jobs and creating a sense of community through our programming that we offer.

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We hear a lot of people saying, well I didn't know that you could do that at the library,

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I didn't know that the library had that, so whether it's the fact that we check out video

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games and board games, that we have things like notary that's free.

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We have copying and printing of course.

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There's always things every day that we're really surprised that people don't realize

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we do.

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We also have a lot of events and activities that are happening, so we have lots of things

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for all ages from birth through senior citizens.

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We also offer a lot of resources as far as databases or community resources that you

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can access.

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We offer meeting rooms for people if they need a meeting room and of course we just

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offer a place for people to gather and be, whether it's a family or a group, and spend

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time interacting with each other and getting the help that they need.

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Public support is so important for the Fargo Library.

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There are so many people that stop by here every day that I interact with who are so

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grateful for the services we provide, whether it's answering questions when completing applications

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online or looking for the book that they really want to check out that they've been looking

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for the latest thing in the series and really want that, and all the programming that we

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offer the people who regularly attend, and we need that support from the public to be

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able to keep providing these services to people that they'll have this library that they love.

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In an age where everything's becoming more expensive, household budgets, if you're going

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to hold the line, take advantage of what we have to offer.

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It's there for you.

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If you're a citizen of Fargo, come and get a card.

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You can obviously sign up for a card at any of the three locations.

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You can do it online and really take advantage of all the resources that are there for you.