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Library director asks for safety specialist as staff report violent incidents and service cuts
Summary
Fargo Public Library reported escalating incidents related to homelessness and substance use, said it reduced Sunday hours because of chronic understaffing, and requested funding for a library safety specialist and a 2027 community survey to guide services.
Tim Dirks, introduced to the commission as the library representative, described three library locations and the outreach services that bring materials to retirement and congregate care settings.
Dirks said homelessness, mental illness, addiction and related incidents have created an operational strain at library branches, leading to violent incidents, behavioral challenges and increased uses of security and police support.
"The most existential problem that we experience… is the impacts of homelessness, mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholism— all those things that exist in the street find their way in," Dirks said, describing fights, thefts and medical incidents that have required police involvement and contract security.
Dirks said the library has trimmed services to cope with limited staff—eliminating Sunday hours in 2025—and asked the commission to fund a library safety specialist (1.0 FTE) to focus on proactive incident management, liaison duties with police and social-service partners, and de-escalation and community engagement.
He also asked for $15,000 in operating funds for a 2027 community survey and facilities master plan work and noted high digital-content costs that led the library to restrict some e-content access to city residents.
Commissioners debated whether PD could supply officers or whether contract security and a dedicated specialist are the right mix; Dirks and commissioners agreed to continue those operational conversations alongside potential budget decisions.
