Library board approves security letter but will wait until after election to send it

The Fargo Public Library Board approved a written request to city leaders seeking action on library safety measures but agreed to delay sending the letter until after the upcoming election.

Board members discussed recommendations arising from the library’s 2025 security report, including funding a library safety specialist position and support for de-escalation and crisis training for staff as part of a coordinated city-wide response. "There’s funding the library safety position, specialist position, and support de-escalation crisis training for staff," the chair said while describing the letter’s requests.

During discussion, one board member questioned whether benchmark cities such as Denver, San Francisco and Indianapolis were appropriate comparators for Fargo and asked whether data from similarly sized communities had been reviewed. Paul (first name only in the transcript) said it was strategically prudent to wait for newly elected officials to be briefed and then submit the letter; the board then voted to approve the letter and to hold submission until after the election so the new officials would receive the document.

The board did not specify an exact delivery date but directed that the letter be held and sent post-election; members did not amend the substantive requests at the meeting.