November is a time for gratitude and giving thanks for our friends, family and community, and the strength and resilience they have provided to support us during the last two years. At the Library, I am certainly thankful for the tireless work our staff puts into serving our community, for the innovative approaches to service our team comes up with, and for the endless joy our customers bring us as we see more and more of you in person each week.
The mission of the Redwood City Public Library is to cultivate community and advance equity by welcoming all people to experience the shared joys of literacy and learning. Equity has been one of the five underlying community aspirations that drive the Library’s Service Priorities since 2016, and the work of our RCPL CARES racial equity team since 2019. Like so many others, we continue to work to identify exactly what that means and how to adjust our operations to produce more equitable outcomes for everyone in our community.
Reflecting on our goals around equity in the context of the Thanksgiving holiday, we encourage everyone to pause to recognize November as Native American Heritage Month, when we honor the sacrifices, history, heritage, and important figures of this nation’s indigenous peoples. We are increasingly aware of the ongoing negative impacts created by the myths and distortions of the facts surrounding both the first Thanksgiving and the nature of the relationship between the colonists and the native people. The Library has an online reading and viewing list as well as physical displays of Native American history materials in our libraries to help you learn more.
In addition to reading about our nation’s history, November is a great time to learn about the Ramaytush Ohlone, the indigenous people whose unceded ancestral homeland the Redwood City Public Library occupies. The Ramaytush Ohlone were the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. We give thanks to them for their stewardship of this land and the model they have provided for what it means to live in harmony with the Earth. On Indigenous Peoples Day last month, the City Council adopted a proclamation including the goal to change “narratives, policies, and practices to better reflect the contributions and experiences of Native American people and to better serve present-day Indigenous communities.” The Library acknowledges the ongoing legacy of settler colonialism, and commits to doing our part to work toward more equitable outcomes for Native Americans in our community.
To learn more about both the history of the original Ramaytush Ohlone people, and the current work of their descendants please visit the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone website.
With gratitude,
Derek Wolfgram
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Great news! Friends of the Redwood City Library have a new batch of RCPL Bees honey. Honey makes a lovely holiday gift and is $10 per jar via our webstore. You will receive an email notifying you when honey is packed and ready for pickup at the Downtown Library.
Our Winter Newsletter is here. This newsletter contains Library news, Friends news, library holiday event information, RCPL honey cookbook details and more. The newsletter also features information about the newest art installed at the Downtown Library – take a few minutes to enjoy.
Last but not least, our annual Holiday Sale is happening at our Bookstore at the Downtown Library. You will find terrific quality and very low prices. Our Bookstore is the primary source of our funding for library programs, so please consider us for your holiday shopping.
To learn more about the Friends of the Library, go here.
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Last Thursday was the final Storytime Outside the Library of the year, but what a fabulous storytime it was! We had visitors from Zoppe Family Circus and an opportunity to see the award winning forest creature costume made by Jessica Hatfield of Redwood City! You can still enjoy live storytimes at Magical Bridge Playground on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 10am. The January storytime schedule will be available soon. Find our Online Stories and more here.
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See the full events calendar here.
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Live & Aloud: Rebekah Victoria |
Join us for a live virtual concert with Rebekah Victoria on December 14.
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Meditation with Dr. Saggar |
Join Manish Saggar, PhD long time meditator for this engaging program on Dec 7.
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SAVE THE DATE!
It's that cozy-time of year to snuggle up with a good book. Winter Reading Club is almost here, starting December 1. The whole family (Kids! Teens! Adults!) can join the Winter Reading Club. All you need to do is read or listen to 5 books between December 1 and January 9 and write a one-word review for each title. Finishers Ages 12 & under receive a goody bag and teens receive a second free book.
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TUESDAYS, 6pm & SATURDAYS, 11am
The group meets year-round and is open to all non-native English language speakers who are interested in developing their speaking fluency.
WED NOV 24
In observance of Thanksgiving
THU NOV 25 & FRI NOV 26
In observance of Thanksgiving
TUE NOV 30, 12pm
We will be meeting on the library plaza to discuss Isabel Wilkerson's "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents."
WED DEC 1, 4pm
Children from 3 to 5 years of age are invited to enjoy stories, songs and crafts.
SAT DEC 11, 3pm
What’s This? What’s This? A paint party before Christmas? Join us at Cyclismo Café for a Nightmare Before Christmas Paint Party. Snacks will be provided. Recommended for ages 12+.
TUE DEC 14, 1pm
Veterans and their family members are invited to join Housing and Economic Resources Advocates (HERA) for an informative virtual presentation all about managing credit and debt.
To keep up with all our online programs, go here.
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Below is a list of services available at this time.
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All Redwood City Public Library locations are open for restored hours and services. Visit our RCPL Limited Edition page for hours, services, safety guidelines, and more.
- Curbside drop-in service for holds pick-up is available at the Downtown Library during open hours
- Bookdrops are open to accept returns
- Computers for 1-hour use are available at all locations
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Our events are online and outside! Check our calendar here.
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Meeting rooms at the Redwood Shores Branch Library are open to the public, more information here.
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Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks; use streaming TV, movie, and music services; and access digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines here.
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Online resources are available to current card holders and new cardholders. Don't have a card? Sign up here
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Library customer service is available for general questions. Please call (650) 780-7018, extension 4 or rclinfo@redwoodcity.org.
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STAY IN TOUCH // MANTÉNGASE EN CONTACTO
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Library customer service is available for your questions:
By phone: (650) 780-7018, extension 4
Servicio bibliotecario al cliente está disponible para sus preguntas:
Por teléfono: (650) 780-7018, extensión 4
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