Redwood City Names Sarah La Torra as New Library Director

Redwood City, CA - The City of Redwood City has named Sarah La Torra as the new director of the Redwood City Public Library (RCPL). La Torra, who has been serving as interim director, brings more than 20 years of experience and a deep understanding of the community she serves.

La Torra was selected following a competitive national recruitment process. She will lead RCPL's continued efforts to advance its three community aspirations of belonging, growth and wellness, with an emphasis on collaboration and community engagement.

"Sarah La Torra is a community-focused leader who is passionate about delivering the joys of literacy and learning to all Redwood City residents," said Patrick Heisinger, city manager. "Her demonstrated leadership, tenacity and commitment to equitable service delivery make her a great fit to continue leading RCPL on a permanent basis."

A member of the Peninsula Library System consortium, Redwood City Public Library welcomed over 830,000 visitors in fiscal year 2026 and circulated almost 1.1 million items. RCPL, which has three locations across Redwood City, hosted 3,419 programs with a total attendance of over 97,000 people, serving as an important third place for the community.

"Our libraries are vibrant community spaces where people of all ages can learn, connect and thrive," said La Torra. "We are proud to provide welcoming environments, diverse collections, and engaging services that enrich lives and foster a sense of belonging. I look forward to building on that foundation in the coming year by creating even more opportunities for residents to access and benefit from our exceptional library services."

La Torra first joined Redwood City in 2007 as a teen services librarian and has worked in several leadership roles, including library division manager and acting library director before serving as RCPL's interim director starting in 2024. During her tenure, she helped develop the library's Makerspace and led the creation of its 2025-2028 Library Service Priorities through an extensive community engagement process.

Before joining Redwood City, La Torra began her library career at the Los Angeles County Library, developing youth programming, executing early literacy initiatives, developing collections, and forming collaborative partnerships with schools and community organizations.

La Torra holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, as well as a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.