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North Beach Branch Library

3.7 (23 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

North Beach Branch Library Photos

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Outside view from second floor
John Z.

Tiny library in north beach. Open 7 days so we can get in on Sunday! Although it is small, it has everything including a bathroom. I saw people was using computer there. Located next to the playground/sport field with good view to Coit Tower and Salesforce building.

Shane S.

"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked" Howl by Allen Ginsberg I recently went on a pilgrimage to the North Beach Branch Library walking all the way from SoMa on a sunny December afternoon. I walked past Jack Kerouac Alley & past City Lights through the heart of North Beach past heaps of Italian restaurants & city streets that ascended high as skyscrapers. The North Beach Branch Library is fairly small yet they have some good programs. In Fact today was a two hour presentation on Beat Cinema focusing on how the writers of the Beat Generation used Cinema to influence their writing. There is a Poetry Reading here every Tuesday from 6:30-8pm focusing on internationally renowned poets & also showcases local talent. I went to the 800 section of books where the poetry books lie looking for a copy of Allen Ginsberg's Howl yet found none. I was bummed. Ginsberg wrote his famous poem Howl in North Beach & read it at the famous Gallery Six reading here. It fought censorship & was published by City Lights Books a short walk from here. I was delighted as I further explored the library to find four large book shelves of Beat literature as this section was called the Beat Collection. They had almost every Jack Kerouac book ever written & decided to pick up the 50th Anniversary of Dharma Bums where Gary Snyder is the inspiration to this book as Neal Cassidy was for Kerouac's classic On the Road. I also picked up Howl & Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg along w/ Fast Speaking Woman by Anne Waldman. I am a proud graduate of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics in Boulder, CO that was co-founded by Jack Kerouac & Anne Waldman in the 1970s. I took some classes w/ Waldman during my studies there & consequently wrote some of my best poetry in her classes. The Beat Collection at this library is easily the crest jewel of this library & rightful so feel that this branch deserves five stars for that alone as it is quite a collection for those who have an appreciation for Beat Literature. It is quite a walk from the Embarcadero BART station yet feel it is worth it for reasons mentioned.

Outside
Angela W.

The futuristic library is clean, well lit with more tables for laptops. The children and teen sections are separate. Lots of DVDs and magazines.

Outside
Ry T.

Hubby and I did a long walk from Market to Fishermans Wharf back to Market, exploring our changing city and reminiscing how it was as natives when we only had 600k to over 800k residents now. It does feel more congested. Even our kid is complaining it is more crowded. We were across the street when I told hubby I wanted to look at the library as it was where I spent my school age years and early teen years hanging out on Saturdays browsing thru the stacks looking for books to read. I haven't been back to see the new building. It is a lot smaller than I recall and so few adult books. The librarians were all women then and now they are all men. There is a child section then a teen section. Hardly any tables. Upstairs was a conference room. Women's bathroom with 2 stalls which one was handicap access. The building looks smaller as if some of the space was used to create a nice stair case outside. The playground has a nice children's area and I can still see a tennis court and basketball court. Today, it is no longer the old, spacious library of yesteryears I would hangout in. So sad.

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3 months ago

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2 years ago

I am so glad to have such a great library in my neighborhood. I utilize the printer often.

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9 years ago

Nice library, but one of the loudest places I've ever been, especially the "quiet" "study" room.

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Ask the Community - North Beach Branch Library

Review Highlights - North Beach Branch Library

My likes: *Picking up your books, dvds, etc.

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Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room - Across the street from Crocker Galleria

Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room

4.5(66 reviews)
1.1 miFinancial District

Chess tournaments held here and it's kind of difficult to find if you are not familiar with…read moredowntown SF. The elevator looks original and the stairs are tight but look grand. The sitting area is tight but sufficient and there are outlets for computers and chargers.

Since being unemployed in the Bay Area thanks to recent layoffs... I've taken the opportunity to…read moreexplore the city during the weekday. Specifically to do things that are only possible on the weekdays. Like exploring some historic buildings! The Mechanics Institute is one of the oldest institutions on the West Coast and this particular building had been around since 1910. It is a members only building, but they hold free public tours on Wednesdays at 12 pm weekly (sign up available online through their website): - During the tour you'll learn a little bit about the history of both the institution and SF, but you'll also learn about what it does today. You'll get to see the chess room, library, and some art deco architecture elements like the spiral staircase and glass dome ceiling. The Chess Room was fascinating since they talk about some notable members, like how the author of Queen's Gambit was a member of their Chess Club. - The tour time can range anywhere from 30 min to 1 hr depending on the questions that come up. However, they allow you to spend time afterwards exploring the library (or taking photos of the staircase) so you can hang out afterwards to look books, old magazines, or admire the collection of artwork they have on the walls. - During the tour you can go up / down the spiral staircase, but there is an elevator present for those who have difficulty walking up the floors. However some parts of the tour had us going through the library shelves and navigating stairs among the shelves. - Although the tour is an opportunity for them to showcase membership benefits... they are NOT pushy at all about selling memberships. However, if I were living near/in the city and working remotely... a membership would be a good option. It's very affordable compared to other private memberships and it's a quieter library than most public these days. They also have great WiFi and rooms available to do video conferencing, so it's a more affordable option than places like WeWork while still being in the city. Plus you can probably leave your stuff behind to run to the restroom quickly... something you can't really do working in free public places like a cafe or public library. This is on top of other benefits like members only events, etc. Honestly, this is a hidden gem in the city with historic significance - if I lived closer to the city and had a remote job, I would definitely look into getting a membership. Public libraries are still great, but I can see the benefits of a private library like this one. Cheers to funemployment and getting the opportunity to explore SF buildings!

Photos
Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room - Mother Road  ~ Featuring Octavio Solis and David Mendizábal {5/22/2024}

Mother Road ~ Featuring Octavio Solis and David Mendizábal {5/22/2024}

Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room - Lunar New Year and The Year of the Dragon: What Will It Bring?  Maxine Hong Kingston, David Lei, and Linda Lei.{2/1/2024}

Lunar New Year and The Year of the Dragon: What Will It Bring? Maxine Hong Kingston, David Lei, and Linda Lei.{2/1/2024}

Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room - Chess room

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Chess room

Chinatown Branch Library - Beautiful location.

Chinatown Branch Library

4.1(51 reviews)
0.5 miNob Hill

Wonderful service! Cute activities for kids, families, adults, and seniors. I've gotten craft…read moreprojects I could do at home like embroidery, and they also offer in-library events and movie screenings! I come here often for their printer and request many books online in the SFPL system and then they are delivered here, waiting for me! There's 2 levels and something for everyone. I love how it's near Chinatown so I can get food or boba nearby. It's on a cable car line so it's always a fun time! I've provided entertainment for many a tourist when they see me carrying too many books.

The SF Chinatown library is much smaller than expected, but it's well maintained and quiet inside…read more Peaceful tables and chairs. They even have a staffs recommended books section which stands out on the shelves. Convenient stop. Public restroom was very clean and one spacious area for sure. They really did a good job here with the organizing of books and upkeep. Nothing fancy, but for Chinatown, it's a very lovely building from the outside which blends in well with the neighborhood architectures. Staffs are friendly and helpful as needed. I don't mind visiting again just to read a bit more Chinese fiction books or read more newspapers and magazines in the back. No cellphones, so just be respectful if you really have to make calls or do something with your mobile devices/phones. The place isn't huge and aisles were pretty narrow, but the book selections are worth checking out. You can find useful resources inside and ads/marketing/events listings by the entrance area. I'll be back.

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Chinatown Branch Library - Chinatown branch SFPL Explorer map sticker

Chinatown branch SFPL Explorer map sticker

Chinatown Branch Library
Chinatown Branch Library - Old and historic library for San Francisco Chinatown.

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Old and historic library for San Francisco Chinatown.

Public Knowledge Library

Public Knowledge Library

4.0(1 review)
1.3 miSoMa, Financial District

The Public Knowledge Library is the latest public library of the San Francisco Public Library…read moresystem & is the 29th library in the system. It is located on the second floor of the SFMOMA & opened about 6 months ago. It will be here at SFMOMA until 2019 & perhaps permanently. The Public Knowledge project includes installations by artists & librarians using resources such as books, magazines, & newspapers addressing the shifting paradigm of libraries to digital technology. The Public Knowledge Library aims to showcase the historic & contemporary relevance of public libraries to support individual needs & interests along w/ generating a community spirit. When I visited today besides browsing some excellent books they also had on display an original card catalogue cabinet from the main library from 1917 that was used until 1989 when it was replaced by digital records. Also on display here was vinyl records & listening stations w/ a focus on musicians in San Francisco. I was delighted to listen to the original first recordings of Joan Baez in San Francisco that was recorded in June, 1958 when she was just 17 years old. It was interesting to listen to her play w/ just her vocals & an acoustic guitar. I also enjoyed listening to some of Miles Davis Live at Blackhawk in San Francisco. I liked reading the linear notes on both records. Items here are non-circulating yet don't worry as many of the items are available for check out at the main library. It is worth paying a visit to SFMOMA if in SoMa to visit the Public Knowledge Library & look forward to returning to see other exhibits here down the line.

North Beach Branch Library - libraries - Updated May 2026

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