The Fogline Guide to SF Library Perks

As Arthur the aardvark knew well, having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card. The San Francisco Public Library proves this daily, boasting one of the highest visit rates per capita in the nation, strong community programs, and an incredible collection of physical and digital media.

The SFPL collection spans over 3.6 million items across the main branch, 27 neighborhood branches, and bookmobiles. Members can check out up to 100 items at a time, and popular magazines, movies, and music can be downloaded directly to your device. I am consistently impressed by the vast quantity of available books, including Spanish-language titles. The top-notch cross-branch transfer system means that all of this is delivered quickly to your local branch.

The physical collection is just the beginning. Your library card also unlocks free language courses, college prep tutoring, streaming platforms, museum admissions, financial counseling, and much more. Read on for a tour of everything SFPL has to offer.

Ever wanted to learn a new language without breaking the bank? SFPL offers language courses from Rosetta Stone and Mango Languages. Looking for college prep courses for yourself or your child? SFPL partners with Study Smart Tutors to offer free virtual college prep classes for 9th through 12th graders. BrainFuse hosts live online tutoring for languages, academic lessons for grade school students, live homework help, flashcards and quiz apps, college and career guidance materials, and tons more. I was able to connect with a Spanish tutor in under 30 seconds.

There are also in-person homework help sessions for core subjects at various branches throughout the community for grade school students. I have personally participated in the FOG Readers program for students in grade 1 through 4 who are reading below grade level. This is a phonics and fluency program that pairs community volunteers with local students to work on literacy skills. It is a very rewarding opportunity for those with a passion for literacy to work with young readers.

If you are interested in sharpening your tech skills, the library offers free access to Udemy, O’Reilly Learning, and Treehouse Coding. These resources are especially valuable since technical books are often quickly outdated, and O’Reilly books often cost $50+. Through O’Reilly learning, you can get books on the latest tech for free.

A San Francisco Public Library card also unlocks free access to a wealth of online publications that would otherwise sit behind a paywall. These include the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and hundreds of magazines like The Atlantic, Consumer Reports, and National Geographic. 

Ancestry.com can be accessed for free while physically located in an SFPL branch and while using the library’s computers or WiFi.

The main library houses a Jobs & Careers Center on the 4th floor. Resources can be found on career research, resume writing, networking, and interviewing skills. There is also a live job coach featured on BrainFuse to help with specific guidance on the job search process.

The Small Business Center provides resources for small business entrepreneurs on business planning, financing, and marketing for success. I saw a cool feature on the calendar page called Small Business Strolls in which patrons can take guided walking tours to area commercial corridors and speak with small business owners about their stories. There will be a stroll coming up on May 6 in West Portal! I also find the free access to Nolo Press books valuable for their great guides to small business formation, tax info, contracts, and legal agreements.

April is National Financial Capability Month which means the SFPL will be hosting a multitude of presentations on financial topics from personal financial planning to investing and estate planning. The schedule of topics, dates and times can be found here. There are also financial programs available year-round including one-on-one financial counseling. An SFPL patron is eligible to be matched with a Certified Financial Planner at no cost (if under certain income and savings limits) to set goals and make a financial plan.

Do you like to nerd out on some local history? The San Francisco Main Library writes a newsletter updating patrons on the materials and special collections housed in the History Center. It is fun and interesting to see the most viewed archives. Digitized images are also shared with Calisphere and the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA).

Do you want to research everything about the building you live in including checking old building permits? You can access the San Francisco Information Property Map and see just exactly when your cozy kitchen was last updated.

The Special Collections room of the 6th floor also includes the Little Maga/Zine Collection which includes underground and alternative publications from the Bay Area and beyond. We wrote about it here in case you missed it.

Using the Discover and Go program, SFPL patrons can gain free access and discounted rates to Bay Area museums and attractions. When I perused the site for April 3, I found offers for free admission to the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek, the Legion of Honor, 50% off guided tours to the Marine Mammal Center, and free gallery admission to the UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). Popular attractions that are frequently featured include the Asian Art Museum, Exploratorium, California Academy of Sciences, Children’s Creativity Museum, and the Conservatory of Flowers.

The Art, Music, and Recreation Center offers historical programs and other materials by local and visiting artists dating back to 1850. They also host current musical performances including local bands and SF Symphony chamber music at their Main Library Koret Auditorium. We recently wrote about the second March Bay Beats performance at Koret Auditorium featuring local punk bands. Bay Beats is a local streaming music platform the library launched in 2023.

For audiobooks, TV, music, and movie streaming SFPL provides access to platforms like Hoopla, Kanopy, and Alexander Street. Alexander Street is a publisher of academic streaming media with curated, multimedia collections in disciplines such as music, history, and social sciences. Hoopla is a free digital media streaming service that allows patrons to borrow audiobooks, music, movies, TV shows, and comics instantly. Kanopy is an ad-free streaming service for documentaries, movies, and educational films available through public libraries and universities.

The Audiovisual Center is home to the Main Library's media collection, which includes blu-rays, DVDs, music CDs, and audiobooks. But did you know you can even check out vinyl LPs? If you need a recommendation, there is even a staff-created list of vinyl picks. According to this KQED list, San Franciscans particularly like to check out Kind of Blue, Dark Side of the Moon, and Thriller on vinyl.

Library card holders can check out vehicle day-use entry passes to over 200 state parks.

SFPL offers vast resources when it comes to personal enrichment and skill development. Workshops can be found for creative arts, sewing, meditation, senior wellness, and much more. For youths and teens, The Mix offers a makerspace with STEM activities and crafts, music and media studios, and a gaming space.

Interested in polishing your green thumb? The following branches offer seed lending libraries allowing patrons to take home seeds and replenish seeds from their plantings: Bayview, Merced, Ortega, Portola, Potrero, and Sunset.

Ready to sign up for that library card now?