Service Priorities 2025-2028 / Prioridades del Servicio 2025-2028

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In early 2025, the Library conducted 10 bilingual RCPL Listens community conversations with partners serving youth, caregivers, seniors, and unsheltered individuals, as well as open listening sessions for the general public and specifically for BIPOC individuals, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ folks, to identify community issues, challenges, and aspirations.

Over 150 people representing a diverse cross section of Redwood City community members participated, and their discussions highlighted three common themes in the form of community aspirations toward which the Library could contribute in a positive way: Belonging, Growth and Wellness. The Library’s areas of focus in new and ongoing service initiatives for the next three years were developed in service of these aspirations.

Our Mission

Redwood City Public Library cultivates community and advances equity by welcoming all people to experience the shared joys of literacy and learning.

Service Priorities 2025-2028

Community Aspirations: Belonging, Growth and Wellness

Belonging

The Library creates spaces where all Redwood City community members belong by embracing diversity, equity and inclusion and by providing access to all. All community members in Redwood City will be welcomed to actively participate in programs and services of the library regardless of race or ethnicity, language spoken, housing status, immigration status, disabilities, age, gender identity, or sexuality.

  • Support the City of Redwood City IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Leadership) team and implement RCPL CARES Thematic and Cultural Recognition Plan. 
  • Develop the Library materials collection with a focus on historically marginalized communities. Regularly audit the Library collection for gaps in representation of the community.  
  • Participate in the annual Banned Books Week celebration to promote the freedom to read. 
  • Provide community referrals, highlighting housing, transportation, and social services. Explore potential partnerships to expand services. 
  • Expand services to the homebound community and seniors in nursing homes and assisted living centers. 
  • Explore addition of Privacy Pods for breastfeeding in the Downtown Library Family Place.  
  • Increase Tween Programming (for children ages 8-12).  
  • Share impact stories about Library services through the eNewsletter, social media and the Library’s website.  
  • Create pamphlets on Library services for specific ages and interests including but not limited to youth, teens, adults, parents and seniors. 
  • Create and deliver “Welcome to the Library” email for all new library card holders. 
  • Utilize Universal Design when possible, to make spaces and programs inclusive for all. Work closely with disabled community to improve program and services descriptions.  
  • Increase Spanish language programming at the Downtown Library.  
  • Explore providing Mandarin language programming at Redwood Shores Branch Library. 

Growth

The Library creates pathways for learning, growth, and connection through volunteer work, new experiences, events, and literacy programs for everyone. 

  • Provide a diverse and meaningful set of volunteer engagement opportunities.  
  • Provide workforce development training and collaborate with partners to provide opportunities for community members.  
  • Provide workshops on Financial Literacy.  
  • Develop a Teen Internship program incorporating workforce readiness and life skills training.  
  • Design a new series of programs to strengthen community ties and encourage meaningful friendships.  
  • Support intergenerational literacy needs through early literacy programming, Project READ’s Adult Literacy Programs, Families for Literacy Program, Kids in Partnership Program, English as a Second Language Literacy Program, and the Family Literacy Instructional Center. 
  • Develop a series of educational workshops for new parents. 
  • Provide digital literacy and technology access utilizing the Makerspace. 
  • Offer accredited high school diplomas to adults through the Career Online High School program. 
  • Expand Library of Things to include Cake Pans & Video Games.  

Wellness

Through engaging quality-of-life programs, the Library supports the mental, physical, and emotional wellness of the community. 

  • Cultivate physical, emotional and mental health through programming and community partnerships  
  • Provide environmental sustainability education on the topics utilizing the Interpretive Center and Makerspace.  
  • Increase nutrition programming utilizing La Cocina, cooking demonstration cart. 
  • Provide a variety of programming on safety issues related to: bicycle-orientated programming, personal self-defense, wildfire resistant landscaping strategies, and online safety/fraud prevention.
  • Design and implement a series of programs to alleviate loneliness.

Community Impacts

To measure its contributions to the community:

  • The Library will maintain over 90% customer satisfaction rate in Redwood City Neighborhood Survey
  • At least 80% of attendees at library events will report positive changes in behavior, knowledge, or confidence as a result of attending (e.g., parents or caregivers attending library family programs will report reading to their children 3 or more times per week)
  • Over 50% of Redwood City children aged 0-14 will participate in the Summer Learning Challenge
  • The Library will also strive to maintain or increase:
    • Number of attendees at library events, particularly preschool and school-aged children and their families
    • Number of hours of volunteer activities per year
    • Number of adult learners receiving instruction from Project READ tutors and meeting at least one of their individual learning goals
    • Number of checkouts (including electronic), visitors, and technology users
    • Percentage of Redwood City 3rd graders reading at or above grade level
Service Priorities 2023-2025
Prioridades del Servicio 2023-2025