Our mission at the Fargo Public Library is to provide effective and efficient library services to meet our Community’s personal, professional, and lifelong learning needs, and this includes supporting our nontraditional and homeschooling families in their work and play. We look forward to serving you through a wide variety of homeschooling resources available for both parents and children.
Fall Homeschool Events
Collector's Club @ 2 p.m., Dr. James Carlson Library: Calling all collectors! Join fellow hobbyists at the Dr. James Carlson Library to share your collections, swap stories, or learn how to start a collection with an experienced collector. A member of the Red River Valley Coin Club will be on hand at our first session to provide a presentation and some helpful hints. Whether your interest is rocks, stamps, coins, cards, insects, figures - whatever! - this club is for you. To reserve a table to show off your collection, call Cindy at 701-476-5985. Those interested in just seeing what others collect are welcome too!
Sept. 15 - with a special guest from the Red River Valley Coin Club
Nov. 17 - with a special guest from the Lake Agassiz Rock Club
Explore Fossils! - Sept. 25 @ 2 p.m., Main Library: Just in time for National Fossil Day, kids and teens ages 9 and older are invited to join us to learn about the geologic history of North Dakota when staff from the FM Science Museum visit the library! Participants will examine and touch real fossils from across North Dakota's past, then uncover their own fossils in a hands-on mini fossil excavation. Pre-registration is required and may be completed online beginning Sept. 11.
History Alive Book Club @ 2 p.m., Main Library: Kids in grades 3-7 are invited to experience history in an entertaining and thought-provoking way at the History Alive! Book Club. Join us as we experience books and history through fun activities, lively discussion, snacks and more! Pick up your book and register at the Children's Desk in the Main Library, or call 701.241.1495. Registration opens, and books become available, one month in advance of the meeting.
Oct. 9: By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman
Dec. 11: Someplace to Call Home by Sandra Dallas
Germans From Russia Settlers - Oct. 16 @ 2 p.m., Main Library: Join Wyatt Atchley, Education Coordinator at NDSU, to learn about the Germans from Russia who settled on the North Dakota prairie. Discover how families used natural materials like clay, straw, stone, and even dried manure to build their homes. Through stories and pictures, you'll see how people adapted to life on the prairie using the resources around them. You will even get to create your very own mud brick! This program is geared towards kids ages 9 and older, but all ages are welcome. No pre-registration is required.
Chemistry Connections, Dec. 4, Main Library: Make some MORE connections at the library - chemistry connections, that is! Dr. Graeme Wyllie from Concordia College's Science Academy returns for some cool hands-on chemistry experiments. Find out which connections will cause a reaction as Dr. Wyllie mixes learning with a bit of humor for a lot of fun! Pre-registration is required and may be completed online beginning Nov. 20.
Grades 1-4 - 11:30 a.m.
Grades 5-9 - 1 p.m.
Meeting Rooms
The Fargo Public Library has meeting rooms available for use by the general public at each of our three locations. Technology fees, reservations, and guidelines for meeting rooms are covered by Fargo Public Library's Meeting Room Policy.
Dr. James Carlson Library
Community Room (Capacity 70)
Christianson Conference Room (Capacity 15)
Main Library
Community Room (Capacity 100)
Dawson Conference Room (Capacity 15)
Fercho Conference Room (Capacity 20)
Northport Library
Community Room (Capacity 50)
Reservations for these rooms may be made by filling out an online application
Library of Things and Special Collections
The Library of Things includes nontraditional items that can help to enhance your curriculum and learning experiences. All items are available to check out and can be requested for pick-up at any Fargo Public Library location.
Special Collections include Topic Totes and Story-On-the-Go Kits.
Language Learning
Mango Languages
Become conversational in any of 60 languages with Mango Languages. A self-paced, simple learning environment makes it easy to start learning Spanish, French, German or another language. Mango also contains English courses conducted in 14 different languages. Mango is available on both mobile devices and desktops. A microphone is preferred.
Homework Help for Elementary Students
The Fargo Public Library subscribes to multiple online encyclopedias and information databases directed toward elementary age students. These resources may be accessed from home or in the library. Some do require signing in with a library card number. Your last name in capital letters will be your password, unless you previously changed it.
Homework Help for Teens
The Fargo Public Library subscribes to multiple online encyclopedias and information databases directed towards teens. These resources may be accessed from home or in the library. Some do require signing in with a library card number. Your last name in capital letters will be your password, unless you previously changed it.
Parent/Teacher Resource Center
The Parent/Teacher Resource Center is a collection of books and interactive materials located in the Children's Room at the Main Library. Materials of interest to homeschool families include homeschooling guides, activity books, Hooked on Phonics, Hooked on Math and Hooked on Spelling kits, ND Studies Project books, and most all of the Caldecott, Newberry and ND Flicker Tale award-winning titles.