Redwood City's Library Rated Top in Nation

The following is a news release from the city of Redwood City:

The Redwood City Public Library announced today that it has again - for the fourth consecutive year - received the coveted “Five Star Rating” from the “Library Journal Index of Public Library Service,” the premier public library national rating system instituted by the Library Journal. Based on the 2014 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.

“This is a great honor for the City and especially for our wonderful Library staff,” said Jeffrey Gee, Redwood City mayor. “Getting the top rating for the fourth year in a row really illustrates our success in making the Redwood City Public Library a place that connects our community. We’ll continue to work hard to maintain this ranking, and continue providing the Library services that the people of Redwood City really care about.”

Scores are based on per capita measurements including number of items borrowed, number of visits, attendance at activities, and level of public computer use. 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 community library, taking full advantage of all the wonderful programs and materials available. Here are a few of the statistics that put the Redwood City Public Library at the top:

• Over 1 million visits to Redwood City’s four branches, and 1.7 million items checked out
• Over 2,000 uses of the Library’s community meeting rooms
• 130,000 volunteer hours were contributed by community members of all ages
• About a thousand local teens used our Teen Center, averaging about 10 visits each
• Over 9,000 community programs, events, and activities were conducted by the Library, with total attendance at 200,000
• The Library’s public computers were used over 900,000 times
• Over 20,000 books were added to the Library collection

About the Redwood City Public Library

The award-winning Redwood City Public Library connects the community and inspires people through innovative, visionary programming and services such as literacy programs, access to technology, safe, inviting spaces for youth and families, and gathering places that connect the members of the community with a love of reading and learning. The Library’s web page can be found here: www.redwoodcity.org/library.

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