Fargo library board briefed on Digital Consortium as Libby access for nonresidents to be cut in January

The Fargo Public Library Board of Directors on a December meeting heard a presentation on the North Dakota Digital Consortium and learned that, because of budget cuts, Libby/Overdrive access using Fargo library cards will be limited to Fargo residents starting in January 2026.

Jenilee Kenwisher, the library’s collection development/technical services staff member, outlined how the consortium (also known as Library to Go) operates, who may join and how it is funded. “The name of it is the Digital Consortium, the North Dakota Digital Consortium, but you'll also see it known as Library to Go,” Kenwisher said while describing membership and governance.

Kenwisher told the board that annual membership fees range from $1,500 to $9,000 based on a library’s service-area population and that Fargo Public pays the top tier of $9,000. “I believe two thirds of it goes back and is spent on the collection. The other third is the platform fee that allows us to use Overdrive,” she said, describing how the fee supports both purchases and platform costs.

She cited recent usage figures to explain the service’s scale: “In the last 12 months, we've had over 360,000 checkouts on Overdrive,” she said, adding that digital circulation represents roughly 30% of total circulation. Kenwisher also said there were around 9,000 active holds at the time of the meeting and the average wait time was a little over five weeks. The library budgeted and spent about $215,000 on Overdrive in 2025, largely to buy down holds and shorten waits.

Staff described a combination of consortium purchases and Fargo’s individual Overdrive Advantage purchasing that gives Fargo cardholders priority on items the library itself buys. When the restriction begins in January, nonresident patrons will still be able to access the consortium collection by using another member library’s card or by applying for a North Dakota State Library “car card,” but hold times and availability will depend on each library’s purchases and Advantage settings.

Board discussion focused on the popularity of digital content and the limits imposed by the current budget. The director noted that neighboring jurisdictions have tightened access similarly and said the changes reflect a decision to prioritize services for Fargo taxpaying residents with constrained resources.

The board did not take a formal vote on policy at the meeting; the presentation functioned as an informational briefing ahead of service changes scheduled for January.