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