Carissa Hansen
Library Director Dec. 2019 - Dec. 2021
“I feel immense gratitude to the people of West Fargo for the opportunity to lead the library. The last two years have been challenging, hopeful, and transformational all at the same time – for the library and community and me! I will miss you all and the library staff. Connecting with community members and this amazing team has been the best part of the job! Wow I am lucky!”Carissa Hansen has served as Director of the West Fargo Public Library since Dec. 2019. During her tenure, Hansen oversaw the library through a multitude of challenges, changes and achievements. In 2020, amid worldwide closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hansen led the library team as we redesigned library services quickly to be able to serve the community from afar. Under Hansen's leadership in 2020, the West Fargo Public Library
became fine-free, offered curbside service and virtual programs and made home deliveries in partnership with the Little Red Reading Bus. Hansen also led the charge as
the Little Red Reading Bus became a service of WFPL. Hansen has been instrumental in continual collaboration with the West Fargo School District as we work to make library services more accessible for students and their families. In fall 2021, we released our
2022 - 2024 Strategic Plan, which was heavily informed by community input, a project also spearheaded by Hansen. Prior to serving as Director, Hansen worked as Technology & Technical Services Librarian, spearheading projects for the library like an updated website, technology tutoring and the change to a new library management system in 2019. Hansen has also worked for Hennepin County Library and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her Masters degree and the University of Minnesota for her undergrad. We will surely miss her leadership, kindness, passion and expertise!