The Shafter Library and Learning Center received the 2023 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Intergovernmental Collaboration from the League of California Cities for their efforts in saving the library. The award was shared with their partners in this endeavor: the Shafter City Council, Bakersfield College, Listen to Shafter, Friends of the Shafter Library, and the Community of Shafter.

The Helen Putnam Award recognizes outstanding cities that deliver the highest quality and level of service in the most effective manner possible and promotes outstanding efforts and innovative solutions by city governments.