West Fargo Public Schools to offer limited library services this summer

Harwood Elementary School, Independence Elementary School, L.E. Berger Elementary School, Cheney Middle School, Liberty Middle School, and Heritage Middle School are all offering socially-distanced library services this summer.

At the elementary level, the participating schools are offering online book requests and no-contact pick up and return services. Cheney Middle School and Liberty Middle School are offering these same services, while Heritage Middle School is focusing its efforts on providing a library of e-books that students can check out on their device.

Library media specialists at the participating schools are using online communication platforms, such as Blackboard, SeeSaw, and Schoology, to communicate program details directly to students and families throughout the summer.

The summer library service is made possible by the Striving Readers grant, which was awarded to West Fargo Public Schools in late 2018. The grant, totaling $4.28 million, is being distributed to the district over a three-year period and is intended to benefit the literacy needs of disadvantaged children, including those with disabilities, those learning English as a second language, those who are homeless or in foster care, and those living in low-income homes. This is the second summer that West Fargo Public Schools has used grant funds to offer extended summer library services to students.