Community Corner

Redwood City Library Ranked #1 in Country!

The City made the happy announcement today.

 

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.

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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.

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"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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