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West Fargo reports strong summer reading turnout and expanded ‘Library on Wheels’ stops
Summary
Youth services manager Lauren reported 678 readers logged nearly 526,000 minutes, steady program attendance through summer, and success with the Library on Wheels route, averaging 36 checkouts per stop and adding monthly elementary school visits.
WEST FARGO, N.D. — The West Fargo Public Library reported high engagement for summer 2025 programs during the board’s Sept. 11 meeting, with staff highlighting steady attendance, program growth and a more efficient mobile outreach model.
Lauren, the library’s youth services manager, told the board “We had 678 total readers in our challenge with almost 526000 minutes read,” and said 76% of participants actively engaged by logging reading or completing activities. Lauren described the summer theme as “Color our world” and said staff used it to shape arts, STEM and story‑time programs.
Staff reported nearly 3,600 people attended library programs this summer. Weekly averages for recurring events were: craft programs about 45 people, STEM 31, and story times 37; teen sessions averaged about five attendees. Special events included a youth‑friendly Wizard of Oz production attended by “over a 100 people,” a Puzzle Off competition, and an Art Heist escape room that drew overflow crowds.
Lauren also described the Library on Wheels outreach as “much more efficient” after changes to the mobile setup. The route focused on three weekly evening stops (Goldenwood, Maplewood and Dakota) and added monthly visits to three elementary schools to support West Fargo Public Schools’ summer programs. Staff reported an average of 36 books checked out per stop and about 22 visitors per stop. Lauren said the Library on Wheels route’s setup time dropped from 15–25 minutes to about five–10 minutes.
Discussion only: the board received the impact report and asked questions about history and uniqueness of the outreach; Lauren said the current Library on Wheels evolved from the Little Red Reading Bus and the library “officially got” that vehicle in 2021 before transitioning to the current model.
Ending: Board members praised staff for summer programming and outreach; no formal actions were taken on program items during the Sept. 11 meeting.
