Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch
🏢 San Francisco Public Library · Chinatown, San Francisco
Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch
A 1921 Carnegie landmark in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown, named for historian Him Mark Lai who grew up just around the corner — the branch holds one of the most comprehensive bilingual Chinese-English library collections on the West Coast, and a $47.8 million renovation set to begin in 2026 will add a public rooftop terrace and restore the grand reading room.
🕑 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: 1135 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 355-2888
Website: sfpl.org
Plus Code: 849VQHWQ+3W (San Francisco, CA)
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📖 About Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch
The Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch opened in 1921 as a Carnegie library designed by G. Albert Lansburgh in the Italian Renaissance style, funded by a Carnegie grant of $67,600. Originally called the North Beach Branch, it was renamed the Chinatown Branch in 1958 to reflect the community it primarily serves. On November 4, 2010, the San Francisco Public Library Commission honored scholar and historian Him Mark Lai — born just blocks away in Chinatown in 1925 — by adding his name to the branch. Him Mark Lai, known as the 'Dean of Chinese American history,' co-authored the first Chinese American history course taught at any U.S. college, co-edited the landmark anthology 'Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910–1940,' and donated over 200 linear feet of research materials to UC Berkeley. The branch underwent major seismic retrofitting and expansion in the 1990s, doubling in size. A $47.8 million renovation is scheduled to begin Summer 2026 (with branch closure in Fall 2026), which will restore the grand reading room, add a public rooftop terrace, create a dedicated teen space, and bring full ADA compliance while preserving the historic Carnegie facade. The branch's bilingual Chinese-English collections, begun in 1972, are among the most extensive in any public library in California.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1921 Carnegie building by G. Albert Lansburgh (Italian Renaissance style), listed on San Francisco's Architecturally Significant Buildings roster — one of seven surviving Carnegie branches in SF
- Renamed November 4, 2010 to honor Him Mark Lai (1925–2009), self-taught 'Dean of Chinese American history' and Angel Island poetry co-editor, who was born just blocks away
- Bilingual Chinese-English collections begun in 1972: books, magazines, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese — among the most extensive in any California public library
- Extensive Chinatown history archive — pamphlets, newspaper clippings, and magazines on Chinatown's development and Chinese American community
- $47.8 million renovation approved for Summer 2026: rooftop public terrace, restored grand reading room, new elevator, seismic upgrades, and new public artwork
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
SFPL cardholders stream, borrow and research free through San Francisco's digital collection:
📚 Services
- Bilingual reference assistance in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese (based on staff availability)
- In-library laptop use program
- Study room for community use
- Teen services with dedicated teen librarian
- Community meeting room for programs and events
- Free recovery and 12-step program books
- Story room for children's programming
- Chinatown history archive — pamphlets, newspapers, magazines
- Ask a Librarian (in-person, phone, and sfpl.org)
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programs in English and Chinese
- Emergency preparedness workshops in partnership with UCSF and NICOS Chinese Health Coalition (bilingual English/Chinese)
- Office hours with SF Community Living Campaign (CLC)
- Teen programming and after-school activities
- Community meetings and cultural events for the Chinatown neighborhood
- Digital literacy tutorials and technology help
📍 Nearby San Francisco Public Library Branches
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in San Francisco · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Him Mark Lai, and why is the Chinatown Branch named after him?
Him Mark Lai (1925–2009) was born in San Francisco's Chinatown and grew up attending Nom Kue Chinese School nearby. Although trained as a mechanical engineer at UC Berkeley, he became the leading scholar of Chinese American history — co-authoring the first Chinese American history course taught at any U.S. college, co-editing 'Island: Poetry and History of Chinese Immigrants on Angel Island, 1910–1940,' and donating over 200 linear feet of research materials to UC Berkeley's Ethnic Studies Library. On November 4, 2010, the SF Public Library Commission renamed the branch in his honor, connecting the library back to one of the community's most dedicated custodians of memory.
Does the Chinatown branch have Chinese-language materials and bilingual staff?
Yes. The branch has offered Chinese-language books, magazines, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs since 1972, alongside an Asian Interest collection in English. It also maintains an extensive file of pamphlets, newspapers, and magazine articles on Chinatown's history and the Chinese American community. Staff speak English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese (availability varies by shift). Chinese eBooks are also available system-wide through Libby and the UDN digital collection.
Is the Chinatown/Him Mark Lai Branch closing for renovation?
The branch is scheduled to close in Fall 2026 for a $47.8 million renovation — approximately 30 months of construction. The project will restore the grand 1921 Carnegie reading room, add a public rooftop terrace, install a new ADA-compliant elevator, and incorporate new public artwork, all while preserving the historic Italian Renaissance facade. A temporary service location will be announced by SFPL before closure. Check sfpl.org/locations/chinatown for the latest updates.
What makes the 1921 Carnegie building architecturally significant?
Designed by G. Albert Lansburgh in the Italian Renaissance style and funded by a Carnegie grant of $67,600, the building was constructed on a steeply sloping site that required substantial excavation. Its distinctive double exterior stairways rise toward both ends, meeting at a central second-floor entrance. The branch is listed on San Francisco's roster of Architecturally Significant Buildings and is part of the city's seven surviving Carnegie library structures — all of which still function as active public libraries.
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