San Francisco Public Library

As a child my dream was to be a librarian. Books were my safe space and libraries my sanctuary. I spent most of my summers there in elementary school and still incorporate them in my life now for work. I prefer them to cafes, its quieter and the tendency to get distracted is slightly less all encompassing. I find the Main  San Francisco library located downtown Civic Center is the easiest to find a spot at they even offer small glass private rooms if your are in need of a quite environment. There is an eclectic mix of people who frequent and make use of this public institution.
As much I as love the library I haven’t given it its due when it comes to taking advantage of all that it has to offer. There are multiple events held daily at each location. Guest readers, workshops, educational classes, and crafting are a few of their usual activities. There’s a huge archive room on the 6th floor which houses a number of historic books on San Francisco and its inhabitants as well as volume upon volume of public records dating back two centuries. The 6th floor also houses rotating art exhibits curated by the staff themselves. Once or twice a month on the front steps of the Larkin street entrance they host a $1 book sale to make room for more inventory as well as raise funds to put back into library. It is a great place to look for older additions or get your hands on hardback classics. Main also has a secluded area for young children to play and learn. For those 13- 18 years in age there is a teens only enclave called the MIX focused on providing youth with a place to develop mixed media skills, expand their creativity, or simply just hang out. To further emphasize their commitment to knowledge there is the option to obtain a fully accredited high school diploma online. The library is fully accessible to those who are differently abled. There is a veterans resource center to help a much underserved demographic. They also offer immigration help for our neighbors who are new to the country such as how to get settled, classes to assist with improving their English, and information on becoming a citizen.
If getting to the library isn’t an option or isn’t a desire you have, once you have a card you can gain admittance to the E-Library which gives you access to streaming music, movies, educational videos, digital magazines, ebooks/eaudiobooks, online exhibits and historic photos of San Francisco.
This library is doing more for citizens than our government ever has (jk conservatives, I know the library is funded by the city and state). That being said the library is an often overlooked but incredibly beneficial resource to our community. Considering how small San Francisco is there are an astounding 27 branches for people to choose from. With the onslaught of member’s only workspaces throughout the city it is nice to have a free and equally useful, (though far less private) option.