West Fargo library lays out strategic goals, reports circulation gains and staffing hires

Jenna, the West Fargo Public Library director, presented the board with a strategic-plan update on Feb. 12, outlining goals that include a 15% increase in library card signups by 2028 and a 15% rise in satellite-library usage over the same period.

The update, organized around three core values—compassion, growth and learning, and community and connection—listed measurable targets and service expansions that the library will pursue in the coming years. "We would like to increase library card sign ups by 15% by the year 2028," Jenna said, describing steps to pursue roughly 5% growth per year.

Why it matters: the plan mixes service-access improvements and outreach with operational work designed to support growth. Key items include increased supports for non-English speakers (for example, Spanish-language library card applications), expanded community resources at the satellite location, a review of a "library of things" (nontraditional loanable items such as radon test kits and cake pans), and proposals to remove a $1 replacement library-card fee to ease circulation.

Jenna also reported recent operational metrics and staffing changes. She said the library closed the last fiscal year 93% expended and is about 6% expended year-to-date for 2026. "We ended the year beautifully. We were 93% expended," Jenna said, adding that underspent staffing lines explain the year-end carryover. She noted that, under Century Code language cited in the meeting, library-assigned mill-levy dollars remain with the library at fiscal year-end rather than reverting to city or county control.

Circulation and digital services: January combined physical and electronic circulation was about 3,000 higher than the previous year, driven in part by strong electronic checkouts. Jenna attributed much of the electronic growth to West Fargo residents signing up for West Fargo cards after Fargo Public Library narrowed its service area and increased out-of-area fees. The library has redirected some funds previously used for Hoopla to buy additional Libby titles and is monitoring hold lists with the State Library and its collection-development team.

Staffing and programming: the library filled a part-time circulation assistant position that started the meeting day, and it has hired an adult services manager who will begin in March; interviews are underway for an adult services librarian. Jenna recognized circulation staff Lindy Williams and Kayla Birkholz as peer-nominated annual-award winners and highlighted youth programming such as a Winter Reading Challenge (134 participants, more than 73,000 minutes logged) and a Coco and Cozy Crafts event attended by about 80 people.

Next steps: the strategic-plan presentation was informational; staff said they will return with progress updates during the year and track satellite-specific metrics separately to measure goal progress. No board action beyond routine consent and adjournment votes was recorded.