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A NOTE FROM THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR
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 Dear community,
I'm so excited to announce that we are closing the chapter on fines. We are
fine free!
Beginning July 14, 2020, Redwood City Public Library is no longer charging daily overdue fines for our items that are returned late. At the
July 13 City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to end the practice of charging overdue fines. As part of this new policy, we are waiving all existing Redwood City overdue fines on your accounts. Please note, however, that the library does still charge a replacement fee for lost items.
One of Redwood City Public Library's Service Priorities for Redwood City and North Fair Oaks is to provide opportunities for community members of all income levels. One of the supporting activities to achieve this aspiration was a complete equity audit of Library policies and procedures, and to develop a plan to change practices with a disproportionately negative impact on low income residents and people of color. The elimination of fines is a major step toward our equity aspiration for the community.
By eliminating fines, we join a wave of libraries across California and the nation who have ceased charging fines. User surveys in the field consistently include fines and fees as one of the greatest barriers to library use. In 2016, the Peninsula Library System, which includes the San Mateo County Libraries system and all seven city-run libraries in San Mateo County, eliminated overdue fines for children and teens. In the first year after that change, circulation of materials by children and teens increased by 33% over the previous year, and library card registrations for children and teens increased by 61% over the previous year.
In addition to increased usage of libraries by the community, library staff in libraries without fines have the opportunity for more positive, proactive customer service interactions as a result of the elimination of fines. Libraries that have studied the personnel costs of administering fines, including a very comprehensive study in San Diego, demonstrated that libraries were paying staff significantly more to collect fines than the amount of revenue actually being collected.
The most compelling argument for eliminating fines is the inequitable impact fines have on low income residents and the Latino community. In our studies, the percentage of library cards in Redwood City blocked because of money owed corresponds directly with both the proportion of Latino residents and with lower median household incomes. By eliminating fines, we are providing more equitable access to library collections and services.
For more information, our staff have developed frequently asked questions that you may have. Find them
here.
I am immeasurably proud of Redwood City for voting on the side of equity and access in library service. Libraries are a great equalizer in our society. You can now use the library without fear of fines you can't afford to pay. We welcome all to enjoy free access to literacy and learning.
Derek Wolfgram
Library Director
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SUMMER LEARNING CHALLENGE
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 See all those stacks and boxes of books? We are handing them out during our Summer Learning Challenge Curbside Pick-up hours. Just for registering, all participants 18 years and under get a free book to keep. Newly registered teens and adults will be entered into a raffle to win gift cards to local businesses and streaming entertainment services.
The free book can be picked up at the Downtown Library during
Curbside Pick-up
service hours.
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See the full events calendar
here.
 CALLING ALL TEENS!
Join other teens this summer for a chance to win prizes and gift cards to your favorite places to shop an eat! All of our summer programs are winners. Love to read, join the Summer Learning Challenge! Want to connect or re-connect with the outside world? Join
Teen Craft Club on Wednesdays and
Teen Connect on Thursday nights. Join the
Fortnite Tournament for ultimate bragging rights and a chance to win VBucks. Love the Redwood City Library? So do we! Show us in a Tik Tok, video clip, poetry slam or other video format and you could win gift cards and a $100 donation in your name to your favorite charity. For more info visit the
Summer Learning Challenge page
UPCOMING EVENTS
FOR KIDS AND TEENS
TUE, July 14, 4pm and multiple sessions
A fun and family-friendly mini-concert. You will sing and dance as Nathalia presents bilingual music.
TUE July 21, 4pm and multiple sessions
An entertaining, funny, and educational raptor show.
CRAFT CAMPS
Wednesdays at 10am.
WED July 15, 6:30pm
Experience the benefits of Mindfulness Meditation or deepen your practice, in Spanish or English. Led by expert teachers in Redwood City and Puerto Rico.
THU July 16, 6pm
Writers and activists Leta McCollough Seletzky and Cara Meredith are passionate about teaching parents and caregivers how to enter into conversations of race.
FRI July 17, 12pm
Strengthen mental and emotional resilience wherever you are with tools developed specifically for the unique needs of Veterans AND their family members.
TUE July 21, 7pm
FRI, July 24, 1pm
Learn how to uses AtoZ Databases to search for jobs and market your business.
To keep up with all our online programs, go
here.
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Below is a list of services available at this time. For updates, visit our COVID-19 microsite here.
- All Redwood City Public Library locations are currently closed until further notice.
- Downtown Library bookdrops are open to accept returns.
- Curbside Service for picking up holds is now available.
- Library events for kids, teens, and adults are happening online. Check our calendar here.
- Meeting room reservations are cancelled until further notice.
- Due dates for all library materials checked out before July 10, including Wifi hotspots, are extended through July 31.
- Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks; use streaming TV, movie, and music services; and access digital subscriptions to newspapers and magazines here.
- Our Zip Books service continues. Zip Books is a way for customers to request books that the Library doesn't own. The item is shipped directly to you using Amazon Prime.
- Library customer service is available for general questions. Please call (650) 780-7018, extension 4 or rclinfo@redwoodcity.org.
- Online resources are available to current card holders and new cardholders. Don't have a card? Sign up here for an eCard, good for 90 days.
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 La Biblioteca Pública de Redwood City ya no cobrará multas diarias en artículos de nuestra biblioteca que se devuelvan tarde.
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SEND TO A FRIEND
Have a friend you think might be interested?
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