West Fargo, ND – (February 4, 2022) – A recent partnership between West Fargo Public Schools and the West Fargo Public Library has expanded literary access for middle and high school students.

At fall registration, parents/guardians are now able to register their student for a library card through the West Fargo Public Library. For those requesting a card, the student’s annual district student ID is activated as the library card as well, reducing the number of cards the student is required to carry and maintain. The cards are activated twice per year, once following fall semester and again shortly before second semester. At this past month’s activation period, 5,407 middle and high school students, or 90% of the secondary student body, had registered for a joint student ID/library card!

“West Fargo Public Schools is thrilled to partner with the West Fargo Public Library in building a community of readers,” shared Aimee Volk, curriculum coordinator at West Fargo Public Schools. “This collaborative project offers another layer of support and access to books for our students and families. Together, we can build a lifelong love of reading within our community.”

Volk, a curriculum coordinator involved in the district’s library media curriculum and literacy opportunities, engaged the district’s middle school and high school library media specialists in this initiative with the West Fargo Public Library and its youth services manager, Lauren Nephew. “West Fargo Public Library is very excited to partner with the school district in the launch of the student library cards initiative. Students now have expanded access to library resources to support their learning and personal interests, and to further develop their life skills,” Nephew said. “With these cards, students have access to all library online databases and materials, as well as the ability to check out materials at the West Fargo Public Library.”

The opportunity is available to all students in grades six through twelve at West Fargo Public Schools, not just those within City of West Fargo city limits. For families moving to the school district after fall registration, a request can be submitted at the time of arrival, with cards becoming available according to the bi-annual activation schedule.

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