Library | Events | Kids | Teens | en español

Welcoming Week Storytime with Redwood City Together Promotores. Find more Welcoming Week events here

September 15, 2025

Redwood City Public Library’s Service Priorities serve as guideposts, reflecting the aspirations of our community. They guide our inclusive programs, services and collections, helping create equitable opportunities for all members of our diverse community.

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 can 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.

The 2025-2028 Service Priorities are now complete and available on our website. We look forward to rolling out the initiatives that the priorities are centered around. These include services that foster a sense of belonging, pathways for learning and connection, and improving quality of life for our community members.

I encourage you to take a look and as always, welcome your feedback and ideas.

Derek Wolfgram

Library Director

Hispanic Heritage Month is here (September 15-October 15) and we will be celebrating all month long! Check out the highlights below and visit our calendar for additional information.

Teen Makers: Loteria

WED SEP 15, 5pm

Peruvian Dances with Asociación Cultural Kanchis @ Redwood Shores Branch Library

SAT SEP 20, 11am

Danzas Peruanas con /Peruvian Dances with Asociación Cultural Kanchis

SAT OCT 4, 11am

Enjoy our reading lists for Hispanic Heritage Month:

·    For Adults

·    For Kids

Taller de Alebrijes

WED SEP 17, 24 and OCT 1 at 6pm

ESPACIO LIMITADO - ¡Haz clic aquí para reservar tu lugar hoy!

¡Ven y experimenta una experiencia artística única durante el Mes de la Herencia Hispana! Este taller de tres sesiones te guiará en el diseño, construcción y pintura de tu propio alebrije utilizando la técnica tradicional de cartonería. Los alebrijes son una forma de arte arraigada en Oaxaca, México, y en este taller aprenderás sobre su rica historia cultural mientras creas tu propia escultura de papel personalizada. Este taller será facilitado por Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo.

Fechas del taller:

• Sesión 1: Miércoles, 17 de septiembre - Diseño y construcción inicial

• Sesión 2: Miércoles, 24 de septiembre - Detalles y preparación para pintar

• Sesión 3: Miércoles, 1 de octubre - Acabado final y pintura

Explore Local Parks for Free with Your Library Card!

Redwood City Public Library offers two ways to enjoy the outdoors at no cost. With the San Mateo County Parks Pass, you can skip the vehicle entry fee at 23 county parks, including Edgewood, Memorial and Wunderlich Parks. With thanks to the generous support of the San Mateo County Parks Foundation, which helps make additional passes available to library cardholders.

A collaboration between the California State Library and California State Parks gives all Californians access the state’s beautiful beaches, forests, deserts, monuments, lakes and rivers. California State Library Parks Pass provides free day-use entry to more than 200 state parks.

Both passes check out for three weeks and can be reserved or borrowed on a first-come, first-served basis. Pick one up at any library branch and start exploring! Learn more here

Only one more week until the Redwood City Library Foundation’s screening of the Award-Winning Documentary "The Librarians." The film follows librarians in Texas, Florida and other states as they unite to combat increasing cases of book banning in the United States. Librarians have become the first responders in the fight for democracy and first amendment rights, even as they are being harassed, fired and even threatened with prosecution.

The film is will be shown Monday, September 22 from 5:30-7:30pm in the Community Room at the Downtown Library, followed by a discussion with Library Director Derek Wolfgram. Tickets are free with RSVP. Tickets and more info here

And only three more weeks until the Foundation’s 4^th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl on October 8 during Banned Books Week, where you can learn even more about censorship. Participating pubs will offer discounted drinks and small snacks and will feature a banned book and some censorship facts, with a Foundation representative present to answer questions. You can spend a fun evening with fellow library lovers while supporting local businesses and the library.

4th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl Fundraiser Tickets, WED OCT 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite

Got extra books, puzzles, or DVDs? Bring them to the Friends of the Redwood City Library's monthly donation event on Saturday, September 20!

Here’s where to drop off:

• Downtown Library – 1044 Middlefield Rd | 10am–Noon

• Redwood Shores – 399 Marine Pkwy | 10–11:30am

Your support goes toward funding programs during the Summer Learning Challenge, storytimes, career workshops, teen events and more.