Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library
🏢 San Francisco Public Library · San Francisco, California
Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library
The Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library is Bayview-Hunters Point's community library — a LEED-certified building that reopened in 2013 with an exterior atrium featuring West African Adinkra symbols, and a collection with a distinctive emphasis on African American history and culture.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 1pm–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 5075 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94124
Phone: (415) 355-5757
Website: sfpl.org
Plus Code: 849VPJM5+2C (San Francisco, CA)
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📖 About Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library
The Bayview/Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library serves one of San Francisco's most historically significant neighborhoods: Bayview-Hunters Point, a community shaped by shipyard work, the Great Migration, and decades of environmental and economic challenges. The current branch opened on February 23, 2013, as a LEED-certified building whose exterior atrium is decorated with West African Adinkra symbols — an architectural nod to the neighborhood's Black cultural heritage. The library is named in honor of Linda Brooks-Burton (d. 2013), who was born and raised in the Bayview and dedicated 30 years to this branch, 15 of them as managing librarian. She co-founded the Bayview History Preservation Project in 2007 — digitally archiving the histories of Black migration to the Hunters Point Shipyard — and the Bayview Footprints Network of Community Building Groups in 2008. The library was renamed in her memory in 2015, less than two years after her sudden death. The collection emphasizes African American history and culture alongside general fiction, nonfiction, and a medium-sized Chinese-language collection. The Shades of San Francisco project historical photo archive is held here.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named in 2015 for Linda Brooks-Burton, who dedicated 30 years to this branch and co-founded the Bayview History Preservation Project in 2007
- LEED-certified building reopened February 2013, featuring West African Adinkra symbols in the exterior atrium
- Distinctive collection emphasizing African American history and culture, plus a Chinese-language collection
- Holds historical photographs from the Shades of San Francisco Project documenting Bayview-Hunters Point community life
- Open until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, serving the Bayview community with extended evening access
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
San Francisco Public Library cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free with these digital resources:
📚 Services
- African American history and culture collection — one of the strongest in the SFPL system
- Shades of San Francisco historical photo archive (Bayview-Hunters Point community history)
- Chinese-language and Spanish-language collections
- Public computers, printing, scanning and free Wi-Fi
- Study rooms for individuals and small groups
- Recovery and 12-step program book collection
- Interlibrary loan through the SFPL system
- Discover & Go passes for Bay Area museums and cultural institutions
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Teen programs and after-school activities
- Adult literacy and English-language learning support
- Community events reflecting Bayview-Hunters Point history and culture
- Summer reading for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in San Francisco
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Linda Brooks-Burton, and why is the Bayview Branch named after her?
Linda Brooks-Burton was born and raised in the Bayview neighborhood and dedicated 30 years of her career to this branch, serving 15 of those years as managing librarian. She co-founded the Bayview History Preservation Project in 2007 to digitally archive histories of Black migration to the Hunters Point Shipyard, and the Bayview Footprints Network of Community Building Groups in 2008. She died unexpectedly in September 2013, and the branch was renamed in her honor in 2015. Library officials described her as 'the quiet champion behind the effort to build a new branch library in the Bayview.'
What makes the Bayview Branch building architecturally distinctive?
The current building is LEED-certified and opened on February 23, 2013. Its exterior atrium features decorative West African Adinkra symbols, a deliberate architectural choice honoring the Bayview-Hunters Point community's deep African American cultural heritage and history.
Does the Bayview Branch have a local history collection?
Yes. The branch holds historical photographs from the Shades of San Francisco Project documenting community life in Bayview-Hunters Point, alongside a collection emphasizing African American history and culture. This makes it a valuable resource for researching the neighborhood's history, including the shipyard era and the Great Migration to San Francisco.
What are the Bayview Branch's hours, and is it open on Sunday?
The branch is open Monday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 1–6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday 1–5 p.m. Extended evening hours Tuesday–Thursday serve the community's students and working adults.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
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