San Franciscans don’t have far to travel to go to the nation’s most community-minded library: It’s right here in town.

Library Journal, the venerable trade publication, has named the San Francisco Public Library the Library of the Year.

Awarded since 1992, the prize recognizes the library that best serves its community, through innovative programming, and has done the most to draw patrons.

“The people of San Francisco are very lucky to have this excellent library at their fingertips, and the library profession is lucky to have it as a model and inspiration,” Rebecca T. Miller, editorial director of Library Journal, said in a statement. “San Francisco Public Library is truly a national leader in developing models of inclusion, demonstrating bold approaches to serving the diverse and underserved segments of it community, and redefining how urban libraries can and should be responsive to the national dialog on democracy.”

Now Playing:

The award recognizes the work of Luis Herrera, who retired as city librarian in February, and his successor, Michael Lambert.

“This library has real energy, it has real passion,” author Dave Eggers, who nominated the library for the award, said in a statement. “Contrary to some large institutions that can be burdened by their own size and history, and which have the alacrity of a cruise ship, the SFPL is nimble, creative and always inclined to find a way to make things happen.”

The Main Library and its 27 neighborhood branches — and four bookmobiles — had more than 6.6 million visits last year. All of the libraries are open seven days a week.

The library award, co-presented by the educational publishing company Gale, comes with a cash prize of $10,000. The library will be honored later this month at the American Library Association’s conference in New Orleans.

Past winners of the award include the Nashville Public Library (2017); Ferguson Municipal Public Library in Ferguson, Mo. (2015); San Jose Public Library (2004); and Redwood City Public Library (1992).

John McMurtrie is The San Francisco Chronicle’s book editor. Email: jmcmurtrie@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @McMurtrieSF