This newsletter is full of stories that show what is possible when a community comes together for its library. At the Redwood City Library Foundation (RCLF), we often say it takes a village to fundraise for the library—and this issue proves it. Donations, volunteer hours, sponsorships, grants, and events all help Redwood City Public Library (RCPL) provide opportunities that change lives. Read about how we are helping bridge the digital divide so more residents can access reli

Having unreliable broadband isn’t an inconvenience—it’s a penalty. Redwood City Public Library, through the support of Redwood City Library Foundation, eliminates that penalty for many of our residents. A recent study published by Silicon Valley Joint Venture noted that thousands of our fellow residents lack access to broadband or only have limited access. The divide is not just lack of bandwidth. It is the daily tax paid by people who cannot apply for jobs, attend telehealth

On Saturday, April 25th, the Downtown Library opened for a special after-hours event to raise funds for the library! 145 library patrons gathered to solve a literary mystery by completing puzzles to collect clues to identify the ghost of a famous person who once had a shattering experience in Redwood City (true story). In addition to the mystery, participants enjoyed live music by the VRV Jazz Trio, a catered menu, themed cocktails, and dessert provided by The Cake Robin. We

For almost a year, Julio Torres has served as a teen intern at Redwood City Public Library. Starting last summer, he assisted with the Summer Learning Challenge. A junior at Sequoia High School, he applied because he wanted to step out of his comfort zone, improve his communication skills, and learn how to work with a team. “I used to come to the library all the time with my friends,” Julio said. “I wanted to help out the community because that’s my goal—to be able to help pe

From recurring monthly donor Tracey: “I have donated to the Library Foundation or Friends of the Library or both, over the years, because donations were my way of showing appreciation. Services provided by public libraries keep evolving and community members (including me!) keep benefiting. Federal funding cuts nudged me into contributing monthly instead of making just one or two donations each year, giving me a budget-manageable way to increase my level of support.”

Public libraries like Redwood City Public Library are more than buildings—they are vibrant community hubs. While core funding from the local government covers essentials like staffing and facilities, it’s the support of dedicated nonprofit partners that truly brings the library to life. The Redwood City Library Foundation (rclfdn.org) fuels innovation. Since 1998, it has funded impactful initiatives such as the Redwood Shores Branch Library opening day collection, Makerspace,

Thank you to all who have supported the library this past year

by Kiran Rao. I remember the slow crawl of the school year towards summer; hallways lined with lockers stuffed to the brim with Art in Action artwork and old class projects. Students were ready to head into the break, and experience the classroom-free, fun-filled days they were promised. For me summer meant spending time with my little sister, swimming pools, and books. After checking out a stack of books from the library, I would tear through them, return them, and repeat it

Get ready for one of Redwood City’s favorite fall traditions — the 5th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl Fundraiser returns on Wednesday, October 7, 2026! Last year, more than 600 people joined us during Banned Books Week for a fun-filled evening in downtown Redwood City. Guests enjoyed discounted drinks at 16 local pubs while learning about banned and challenged books from volunteers and RCLF board members at each stop. Most importantly, every ticket helped support vital library init

What does your library mean to you? Even during chaotic times, we all hope we can count on our local library. To ensure that libraries flourish and have the freedom to promote and protect the public good for today and tomorrow, each one of us must step up to provide financial support, volunteer assistance, and advocacy for our libraries. Libraries contribute to a future that values and protects freedom of speech in a world that celebrates both our similarities and our differe

More than 70 community members attended a film screening and discussion of “The Librarians,” a different kind of super hero movie, on September 22 at the Redwood City Downtown Library. “The Librarians”chronicles how book bans are spreading, and librarians are being harassed, fired and even threatened with criminalization for defending the right to read. The film is a rallying cry for intellectual freedom. A question and answer session followed the film, moderated by Library

Graduate Silvana The Redwood City Council celebrated its newest class of high school graduates from the Library’s Career Online High School (COHS) initiative. Ezra Flores Solorio, Olga Gonzalez,and Silvana Leon were recognized at the September 29 City Council meeting, followed by a reception in the Downtown Library. Graduate Silvana (in photo) said she was thankful to have the opportunity to continue learning and for the kindness she received “from people I saw every day

The gulf between those who have reliable internet access and those who don’t – called “the digital divide” – is an ongoing challenge for many Redwood City residents. Bridging-the-Digital-Divide (BDD) is a cornerstone initiative that RCLF has funded since 2017. We purchase technology assets such as: 100 Wi-Fi hotspots that can be checked out for up to three weeks (just like a book). In the past few months, the Library has refreshed the supply of hotspots with 100 new devices

This summer, more than 6,000 R edwood City and Redwood Shores students committed to read and grow as part of the Summer Learning Challenge (SLC) . Kids who signed up received a free book when they pledged to read 20 minutes a day for 20 days. The Library handed out an amazing 8, 4 00 books this summer —at schools, outreach events in parks and playgrounds and at the Library branches. At the end of the summer those students who fulfilled their pledge received another book

Want free one-on-one tutoring in Biology or the SATs? All you need is your Redwood City Public Library card! Brainfuse HelpNow eLearning is an on-demand, online tutoring service provided by the Library and partially funded by RCLF. You can connect with a tutor, access a writing lab, meet a project group in a virtual study room, or access college prep resources. Live tutoring and homework help is available every day 1:00 pm to 11:59 pm PDT. Other services are available 24 hou

On October 8, more than 500 community members came together in downtown Redwood City for an unforgettable evening of drinks, small bites, and spirited conversation. At each stop on the 4th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl , Library Foundation representatives shared powerful facts about book bans and censorship, connecting the fun with a cause that matters. This year’s theme, Censorship is so 1984!, drew inspiration from George Orwell’s classic cautionary tale about the dangers of sup

Celebrate Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 by giving back to the Library. Last year more than 10,000 people utilized the Makerspace in the Downtown Library, and it’s time to replace and upgrade some Makerspace materials and equipment. We have created a Makerspace Wish List, available now. Purchases from our Wish List will keep the Makerspace as a free resource for our community, providing a variety of programs for all ages. Shop the Wish List or simply donate to RCLF. Consider

Our libraries face a serious challenge today. Public libraries offer everything from tools for children learning to read, to job-seeking...

RCLF Board and Volunteers Thanks to your support, our local library is a vibrant community hub. Public libraries serve as important...

Redwood City Roots Award - Wi-Fi Hot Spot Program Making free broadband access to all parts of our city is a critical element of Redwood...