Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch
🏢 San Francisco Public Library · Castro District, San Francisco, California
Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch
Named in 1981 for Harvey Milk — the first openly gay man elected to public office in California — this Castro District branch holds one of the most resonant names in American public libraries, pairing a dedicated LGBTQIA+ collection with an outdoor courtyard and evening hours three nights a week at 1 Jose Sarria Court.
🕑 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: 1 Jose Sarria Court, San Francisco, CA 94114
Phone: (415) 355-5616
Website: sfpl.org
Plus Code: 849VQH79+J6 (San Francisco, CA)
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📖 About Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch
The Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch has anchored San Francisco's Castro District since 1902, when it opened as the McCreery Branch — the second branch in the SFPL system. After the original neoclassical building was damaged in the 1957 Daly City earthquake, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1961. In 1981, the Library Commission renamed it in honor of Harvey Milk, elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 and assassinated on November 27, 1978 — recognizing him as the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. The branch's address carries a second tribute: in 2006, the City renamed the adjacent block as Jose Sarria Court, honoring the first openly gay candidate for San Francisco Supervisor (1961) and founder of the Imperial Court System. A $5.5 million renovation completed October 24, 2009 added a reading lounge with a refurbished gas fireplace, an outdoor courtyard and garden, a dedicated teen area, seismic upgrades, and fully accessible restrooms.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named in 1981 for Harvey Milk, who championed SF's landmark anti-discrimination ordinance and was assassinated November 27, 1978 — the only SFPL branch bearing his name
- Address honors a second pioneer: 1 Jose Sarria Court, renamed in 2006 for the first openly gay candidate for San Francisco Supervisor (1961) and founder of the Imperial Court System
- Dedicated LGBTQIA+ fiction, nonfiction, and teen collection spanning lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, and asexual identities
- 2009 renovation added a reading lounge with gas fireplace, outdoor courtyard and garden, teen area, and seismic upgrades
- Open until 8pm Tuesday through Thursday for after-work and evening visits in the Castro
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
SFPL cardholders can stream, borrow, and research free through San Francisco's shared digital collections:
📚 Services
- LGBTQIA+ fiction, nonfiction, and teen collection
- Books, magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records
- Recovery and 12-step program books
- Interlibrary Loan via Link+ (statewide California libraries)
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Reading lounge with refurbished gas fireplace
- Outdoor courtyard and garden
- Youth storytimes (babies and toddlers)
🎸 Programs
- Friends of Dorothy — monthly LGBTQIA+ book club (third Sunday, 3:30–4:30pm, hybrid in-person/Zoom)
- Genre Smoosh — cross-genre book club
- Storytimes for babies and toddlers
- Classroom visit program for pre-K through middle school (by request)
📍 Nearby SFPL Branches in San Francisco
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in San Francisco · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Harvey Milk, and why is this library named after him?
Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 — the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. He championed a landmark city ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment and housing. He was assassinated on November 27, 1978. In 1981, the Library Commission renamed the Eureka Valley Branch in his memory, making it the only SFPL branch that bears his name.
Does the library have a collection focused on LGBTQ+ topics?
Yes. The branch maintains a dedicated LGBTQIA+ collection covering fiction, nonfiction, and teen materials on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, asexual, and other identities. For deeper archival research, the James C. Hormel LGBTQIA+ Center at Main Library (100 Larkin St) holds SFPL's most extensive collection on LGBTQ+ history and culture.
What does the address '1 Jose Sarria Court' commemorate?
In 2006, the City of San Francisco renamed the block of 16th Street adjacent to the library as Jose Sarria Court, honoring Jose Sarria — the first openly gay man to run for San Francisco Supervisor (in 1961) and the founder of the Imperial Court System, a network that remains one of the cornerstones of LGBTQ+ community organizing across North America.
Is there a book club at this branch for LGBTQ+ literature?
Yes — 'Friends of Dorothy' meets on the third Sunday of each month from 3:30 to 4:30pm, focusing on LGBTQIA+ books. The club is hybrid: drop-in attendance in person requires no registration, while virtual attendance via Zoom requires sign-up through the SFPL events calendar. All titles discussed are available to borrow from SFPL.
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