Public Libraries in San Francisco, California
California — United States
Public Libraries in San Francisco, California
Hours, addresses and free digital resources for the San Francisco Public Library Main Library and Anza Branch.
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Libraries
San Francisco Public Library Branches
The San Francisco Public Library serves the city through its landmark Main Library at Civic Center and 27 neighborhood branches — from restored Carnegie libraries to award-winning green buildings. Explore individual locations for real hours, addresses, and what makes each one distinctive:
Libraries in San Francisco
Main Library
📍 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
📞 415-557-4400 · 🕑 Mon 9–6, Tue–Thu 9–8, Fri 12–6, Sat 10–6, Sun 12–6
Anza Branch Library
📍 550 37th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121
📞 415-355-5717 · 🕑 Mon/Thu 10–6, Tue 10–8, Wed 1–8, Fri 1–6, Sat 10–6, Sun 1–5
The Story of the Library in San Francisco
San Francisco's public library opened on June 7, 1879, and later moved into a wing of City Hall — a building that was virtually destroyed by the great 1906 earthquake and fire, which also consumed much of the collection. A granite Beaux-Arts library opened in the new Civic Center in 1917 to replace it; that structure was eventually repurposed and today houses the Asian Art Museum.
The current Main Library at 100 Larkin Street opened on April 18, 1996, on the opposite side of Civic Center from the old building. Its light-filled atrium and specialized centers made it a flagship for the system, while neighborhood branches such as the Anza Branch continue to serve San Francisco's distinct districts.
About Public Libraries in San Francisco
San Francisco is served by the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL), a citywide system anchored by the Main Library at Civic Center and 27 neighborhood branches, including the Anza Branch in the Richmond District. A library card is free to anyone who lives, works, attends school, or owns property in California; you can apply online and present a valid photo ID at any location to activate it. The card gives you access to books and media across every branch, free eBooks and audiobooks, streaming, research databases, and free museum passes.
California has no single statewide public-library database portal, so SFPL provides its own free digital collection to cardholders: eBooks and audiobooks through Libby / OverDrive, Kanopy for film and documentary streaming, and free museum and cultural passes through Discover & Go. All of it is available online with a San Francisco Public Library card.
📚 What You Can Access
- 📚 Books, DVDs and media borrowable across the Main Library and 27 branches
- 📱 Free eBooks & audiobooks via Libby / OverDrive
- 🎬 Kanopy film and documentary streaming
- 🎟️ Free museum & cultural passes through Discover & Go
- 🖨️ Public computers, printing and free Wi-Fi
- 🧒 Children’s and teen collections and programs
🏛️ Quick Facts
| Libraries | 2 listed (Main Library + Anza Branch) |
| System | San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) |
| Locations | Main Library + 27 branches citywide |
| Main Library | 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 |
| Phone | 415-557-4400 |
| Main Library opened | April 18, 1996 |
| Library card | Free to anyone who lives, works, attends school or owns property in California |
| Digital resource | Libby eBooks, Kanopy streaming, Discover & Go passes |
Explore more public libraries in California
American Canyon →Temecula →Lafayette →Nevada City →San Jose →
Frequently Asked Questions