Accessibility Services
The Fargo Public Library strives to ensure that everyone is welcome and has access to the full range of facilities, services, and programs in support of our mission to provide for our community.
The following is a list of accommodations that are available to help people utilize the Fargo Public Library.
For more information or to request an accommodation, please email accessibility@fargolibrary.org or call 701.241.1495.
Facilities
• All library locations have automatic door openers.
• All library locations have family restrooms, changing tables and ADA-compliant restrooms.
Main Library
Parking is available at the Main Library in the west parking lot along 4th St. N. and in the east parking lot along 3rd St. N. on the south side of the Fargo City Hall. Patrons must cross a street to access the east parking lot. Library patrons park for free when using these lots each day. These spots have a 3-hour time limit in order to accommodate as many library patrons as possible each day. Handicapped parking spaces are available in both parking lots.
• There are sloped sidewalks at the East entrance of the Main Library.
• There is an elevator to the second floor at the Main Library.
Dr. James Carlson Library
The Dr. James Carlson Library has a parking lot with handicapped parking spaces.
The Dr. James Carlson Library also has a drive-up book drop.
Northport Library
The Northport Library has a parking lot with handicapped parking spaces.
The automatic door opener for the Northport Library is located on the east entrance of the mall.
Outreach Services
If you reside within Fargo city limits and are unable to get to the library due to mental or physical disability, please contact our Outreach Services Department for more information.
Print Disabilities and Vision Impaired, Low Vision Resources
• Large print – A wide variety of Large Print materials for adults are available for checkout at all library locations. A selection of Large Print materials for teens and children are available at the Main Library.
• Ebooks and eAudiobooks – Digital books and audiobooks are available online through Libby by Overdrive. Ebooks on Libby can be adjusted for the visually impaired.
• Audiobooks – Audiobooks on CD for all ages are available to be checked out from the Library.
• Read-Along books – Read-Alongs are books with an audio player or books with accompanying CDs. These are available in the children’s library area at all library locations.
• Talking Books through the North Dakota State Library – The Talking Books service is provided by the North Dakota State Library in partnership with the National Library Service, which is a division of the Library of Congress. All North Dakota residents that are unable to read standard print materials because of a visual, physical, or reading disability are eligible for the program, which provides audiobooks and players as well as audio magazines and large print books to patrons free of charge. Eligible patrons can also access a large array of digital books that can be downloaded to a computer, tablet or phone. Information about the State Library's Talking Books program can be found here.
• Dyslexia-friendly texts – A small collection of dyslexia-friendly materials are available for check out from the children’s library at all library locations.
• Descriptive audio DVDs – Descriptive videos and DVDs that contain added audio tracks describing on-screen action for blind and visually impaired viewers. These DVDs are available to be checked out with a library card.
• Reader Pen – Reader Pens are available for check out. The C-PEN ReaderPen is a portable scanning pen which reads printed text out loud using an embedded camera, real-time optical character recognition (OCR) and natural voice text to speech (TTS).
• Magnifying glasses – Magnifying glasses, dome magnifiers and tabletop page magnifiers are available to use upon request at all library locations.
• Large print, high contrast keyboards – Available to use upon request at all library locations.
Hearing Impaired, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Resources
• Closed-caption DVDs – Closed-caption DVDs are available for check out.
• Closed-captions – Movie screenings hosted by the Fargo Public Library include closed-captions when possible.
Mobility Resources
• Spring loaded and left hand scissors – Spring loaded and left-handed scissors are available for use at library programs.
• Touch pad mouse – Available for use upon request at all library locations.
• Step stools – Available for use at all library locations.
• Staff are available to assist patrons retrieve items on shelves which are out of reach.
Additional Accomodations
• Activity Kits – Kits available for use by request at all library locations. Kits include ergonomic crayons, coloring pages, and other tactile toys.
• Noise-cancelling headphones – Available for use by request at storytimes.
For more information, please see the City of Fargo's Accessibility Information.