Redwood City Library Ranked #1 in Country!

The City made the happy announcement today.

Posted by Jennifer van der Kleut (Editor), December 4, 2012 at 02:30 pm

Redwood City residents now have one more big reason to be proud to live in this city.

Today, the City of Redwood City announced that the Redwood City Public Library was ranked #1 in several categories by the Library Journal Index of Public Service, which is the "premier public library national rating system," said City spokesperson Malcolm Smith.

Based on the 2012 numerical score received from the Library Journal Index, the Redwood City Public Library is top-rated among all mid-sized and large library systems in the entire country. It's also the top-rated library in San Mateo County, and the top-rated library of any size in all of California.

"This ranking is a remarkable honor for the staff of this four-branch library system, for gaining national recognition for our Library," said Smith.

"I'm very proud of our Library staff, and I urge our entire community to share in congratulating them on this great honor," said Redwood City Mayor Alicia Aguirre.

"We have worked hard to make the Library a cutting-edge, engaging, and inviting place for the community. This rating really recognizes our success, and shines a wonderful national spotlight on our Library, and our City," Aguirre added.

Only two libraries in California achieved the coveted Five-Star Rating, and Redwood City's received the highest numerical score. Scores are based on per-capita measurements including number of items borrowed, number of visits, number and types of programs offered, attendance at activities, level of public Internet use, and other elements.

"This means that the Library's exemplary ranking is also a recognition that the people of Redwood City are very involved and engaged with their library, taking full advantage of all the wonderful programs and materials available," said Smith. "Therefore, congratulations are also due to the community, for making their library number one."

The Library Journal Index identified 262 "star" libraries throughout the United States, of which only 25 received the full Five-Star Rating in the mid-sized/large categories, including Redwood City's.

Overall, 7,570 public libraries were rated, and the top libraries in each group got three, four, or five stars. Just two libraries in California got five stars, with Redwood City's gaining the highest numerical score in the state.

Only six other library systems in the San Francisco Bay Area were star-rated at all, with Redwood City the only one getting the top rank of five stars.

Recently, the Downtown Main Library was recognized as a historic building and given a special plaque with a commemoration by the mayor and the Native Sons of the Golden West.

Read the Library Journal article on America's Star Libraries here.

Visit the Redwood City Public Library online here.

PATCH WANTS TO KNOW - Do you use the public library? What do you like most about it? Tell us in the comments below.

Also on RedwoodCity-Woodside Patch:

PatchClips: Downtown Library Marked as a Historic Building
Local High School Student's Documentary to Debut at Fox Theatre
Dragon Theatre to Hold Fashion/Trunk Show this Weekend to Raise Money for Move to Redwood City

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Coming Home

We are lucky to live in Redwood City.

Opinion May 24, 2013 at 01:31 pm

1 1 Recommend Laurel Dearborn

View all 1 comments

Wende Schoof May 25, 2013 at 11:30 am

Laurel, thank you for sharing your love for Redwood City and also setting the stage for other people…Read More to express why it's such a great place to live. As a realtor and past resident, I'm a huge fan of Redwood City and am always telling my clients these very things. I think it's a great place to grow up, live and raise kids!

Recommend

S. Chowla October 4, 2012 at 05:20 pm

Laurel, your article hit home with me, also. I often tell people how happy I am to live in Redwood…Read More City. Your post describes some of the reasons why very well. Our town is a real community. As you described so well, there is a wonderful ease of connecting with people here and a sense that we can all be who we are and be welcome here. That is very special. Also, I feel that the wide variety of Redwood City's activities (like the Salsa Festival, but also all the remarkable diversity of events that happen all the time in Courthouse Square, cool events at the libraries, the Farmer's Markets, etc.) make this a vibrant, fun place to live. There are always interesting things to do here, most of which are either free or are very affordable. I feel like RWC's elected and appointed officials and other employees who provide key services for the citizens here (teachers, police, firefighters, librarians, Parks and Recreation Dept. employees, utilities employees, etc.) really care about its residents. Not only are there constantly fun things to do that are free or affordable, there are also many classes and education opportunities to support our needs in so many ways (looking for a job, preparing for an earthquake, etc.). It feels like a well-run city. I have only lived here a few years, but I am quite happy here and am very glad to be a resident of Redwood City. Thanks for writing this article!

Lorianna Kastrop October 2, 2012 at 08:08 pm

Great article Laurel. Nice to hear a young person so open to new activities and new people. How…Read More about trying the PortFest this Saturday at the Port of Redwood City? If you want a ride, take the free shuttle from the Caltrain station--and bring your high school friends! More details at www.rwcportfest.org.