Tag: main library

I Miss the Library

SFPL

In early March, I visited the library for what would be the last time in a while. I didn’t know it at the time, though. The library shut down the next day.

I had a lot of social commitments that happened at the library. Movies, lectures, just sitting and reading, coffee drinking, and just picking up and dropping off books that I wanted to read. I watched shows on my tablet and did some writing there. I would people watch. I went to one of the libraries at least once a week, and sometimes twice a week.

Currently, I have about 20 library books at home, and I am patiently waiting to return them. The library keeps extending the due dates. Most recently, they changed the date to September 30, 2020. This does not give me hope that the library will reopen soon.

I miss the library.

Landfill stories

This exhibit is from the main library. It was from one of my last adventures there before it closed. It is all about how the landfill handles sitting around for so many years. It was interesting, but the photos don’t do it justice. Some bricks had imprints of paper that sat on it for years. It was a discovery of history that wasn’t meant to be discovered, but became a happy accidental find. There is so much history in our landfills just waiting to be discovered some day.

Another adventure

I worked yesterday morning, earlier than usual, so I ran into my neighbor who gave me a long story about her stolen car (explained at the end*). I ended up later than anticipated at work. All of our patients came early today, so I left earlier than expected. This is good because I had a date with my cousin.

On the way home, I dropped off empty wine bottles on a friend’s porch. No, I don’t know what she’s using them for, but it wasn’t far out my way, and I had them at home.

Next stop was my date with the suitcase repairman. I had dropped it off last week, and I needed to retrieve it. My friends and family have been teasing me about it, because I had told a friend that I had dates all last week, including the suitcase repairman. I meant it as my calendar was full, and everything but the kitchen sink type comment, but she took me literally. When I mentioned to her today that I got a hug when I picked up my suitcase, she said it was because it was the second date. Well, there’s a reason she’s my friend.

I picked up mail, which was uneventful, other than the information that my daughter got a fixit ticket for not having her registration sticker on the car. It reminded me to do that.

I went to my friend’s business to drop off recycling in her almost empty recycling bin. I chatted a bit with her after making the mail carrier nervous when I parked across the driveway.

I went home to grab library books to return. I transferred stuff from my purse into my library bag. I then remembered the sticker on my car and the suitcase. I ran out to get the suitcase and brought it in the house, but saw Amazon packages, so I brought those in, too. I started to walk to the train stop. Then I remembered the sticker, so I went back to put it on. Check check check. Everything done?

I stopped to buy cough drops on the way to the train stop, so I missed the first train. When I got to the stop, a lady started to talk to me, not in English. She pulled out a notebook and the parts in English had the name of the train, the stop where we were standing, and another stop along the line. I nodded and pointed and she continued explaining, not in English. I got her on the train and made sure she got off at the right stop. Pantomime on a Thursday afternoon. Maybe charades?

I got off at the stop where the library is. Just dropping off books. Not browsing. The guy with the full sized iguana wasn’t getting second glances, but the couple with the stroller was stopped by security because they were trying to use the stairs. The guy with the dog had no problem getting in, either.

I changed train lines. A guy after me jumped the turnstile with a ton of bags and didn’t spill his grape soda. His girlfriend was inside the station with a ton more bags. They put everything down and suddenly their train was there. They gathered everything up and ran for the train. The guy ran back because he forgot his grape soda.

I went to the station to meet my cousin, but I was early. I messaged her and she told me she was still going to be a while, and she asked me if I had anything to read with me. Funny.

We went to the theater and the movie we wanted to see had only one seat available, so we had to go to the earlier showing. The previews had already started, but we made it.

We saw Little Women. It was wonderful! We did call it an early evening, though, and we were back home before 7 PM.

*Several months ago, my neighbor’s car was stolen. The thief managed to get her door unlock code and followed her home. Her car was stolen that night. It was retrieved the next day, because the thief worked in her building and he drove it to work the next day!

Last week, it was stolen again, from in front of her house. This week, she got a notice that her car was evading toll, so she’d have to pay the ticket. They have the photo of the license plates and the driver going through the toll gate right after it was stolen. At least they have a lead. Maybe it’s the same guy?

SF Main Library

When I was a kid, the main library was fascinating.  It was so huge, it was overwhelming.  I don’t remember much of it from way back then, but I remember endless card catalogs, and looking around and seeing books and books and books.

They remodeled it, and there were years that I didn’t go there.  I found out about programs that were hosted there, so I started going more frequently.  It’s very easy to get to on public transportation, and there’s always a free show by some local crazy person going on in the lobby and occasionally in the bathroom.

I do go there to read quite frequently, but I stay away from the fourth floor where the foreign language books are kept.  People listen to and repeat the language they are trying to learn.  I read on the 5th floor, and there’s usually an interesting display on the 6th floor.  I find enough to keep me busy there for hours.

MAIN LIBRARY (415) 557-4400
100 Larkin St. (at Grove) 94102
M: 9-6; Tu: 9-8; W: 9-8; Th: 9-8; F: 12-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 12-6

27 branches

27 branches

I use the library in the city a lot.  I haven’t been to all of the 27 branches, but I am working on it slowly.  I suppose it doesn’t count if I am only going in to return books?

I am also looking at Peninsula libraries, but there are 35 branches there, and they are spread out more.  I’ll get to those, too, but I’ll post those separately.

 

LIBRARY LOCATIONS AND HOURS

ANZA (415) 355-5717
550 37th Ave. (near Anza) 94121
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-8; W: 1-8; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

BAYVIEW / LINDA BROOKS-BURTON
(415) 355-5757
5075 Third St. (at Revere) 94124
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-8; W: 10-8; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

BERNAL HEIGHTS (415) 355-2810
500 Cortland Ave. (at Moultrie) 94110
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-7; W: 1-9; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

CHINATOWN / HIM MARK LAI (415) 355-2888
1135 Powell St. (near Jackson) 94108
M: 1-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 10-9; Th: 10-9; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

Children’s Room (415) 355-2889
EUREKA VALLEY / HARVEY MILK MEMORIAL
(415) 355-5616
1 José Sarria Court (16th Street near Market) 94114
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 10-9; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

EXCELSIOR (415) 355-2868
4400 Mission St. (at Cotter) 94112
M: 1-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 10-9; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-6

GLEN PARK (415) 355-2858
2825 Diamond St. (near Bosworth) 94131
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 12-8; Th: 10-7; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

GOLDEN GATE VALLEY (415) 355-5666
1801 Green St. (at Octavia) 94123
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 12-8; Th: 12-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-6

INGLESIDE (415) 355-2898
1298 Ocean Ave. (at Plymouth) 94112
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 10-8; Th: 12-7; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

MAIN LIBRARY (415) 557-4400
100 Larkin St. (at Grove) 94102
M: 9-6; Tu: 9-8; W: 9-8; Th: 9-8; F: 12-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 12-6

The Mix at SFPL at Main (415) 557-4404
100 Larkin St. (at Grove) 94102
M: 1-6; Tu: 1-8; W: 1-8; Th: 1-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 12-6; Sun: 12-6

MARINA (415) 355-2823
1890 Chestnut St. (near Webster) 94123
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 1-8; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

MERCED (415) 355-2825
155 Winston Dr. (at 19th Ave.) 94132
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 1-9; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-6

MISSION (415) 355-2800
300 Bartlett St. (at 24th St.) 94110
M: 1-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 10-9; Th: 10-9; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

Children’s Room (415) 355-2828
MISSION BAY (415) 355-2838
960 Fourth St. (at Berry) 94158
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 11-8; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

NOE VALLEY/SALLY BRUNN (415) 355-5707
451 Jersey St. (near Castro) 94114
M: 12-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 1-9; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

NORTH BEACH (415) 355-5626
850 Columbus Ave. (at Lombard) 94133
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-8; W: 1-8; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

OCEAN VIEW (415) 355-5615
345 Randolph St. (at Ramsell) 94132
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 12-8; Th: 10-7; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

ORTEGA (415) 355-5700
3223 Ortega St. (at 39th Ave.) 94122
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 1-9; Th: 12-9; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

PARK (415) 355-5656
1833 Page St. (at Cole) 94117
M: 12-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 1-9; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

PARKSIDE (415) 355-5770
1200 Taraval St. (at 22nd Ave.) 94116
M: 1-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 12-9; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

PORTOLA (415) 355-5660
380 Bacon St. (at Goettingen) 94134
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-6; W: 12-8; Th: 10-7; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

POTRERO (415) 355-2822
1616 20th St. (near Connecticut) 94107
M: 1-6; Tu: 10-8; W: 1-8; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-6

PRESIDIO (415) 355-2880
3150 Sacramento St. (near Baker) 94115
M: 1-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 11-8; Th: 10-6; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

RICHMOND/SEN. MILTON MARKS
(415) 355-5600
351 9th Ave. (near Clement) 94118
M: 1-6; Tu: 10-9; W: 10-9; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-6

Children’s Room (415) 355-5610
350 10th Ave. (near Clement) 94118

SUNSET (415) 355-2808
1305 18th Ave. (at Irving) 94122
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-8; W: 10-8; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5
Children’s Room (415) 355-2818

VISITACION VALLEY (415) 355-2848
201 Leland Ave. (at Rutland) 94134
M: 10-6; Tu: 10-8; W: 10-8; Th: 10-8; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

WEST PORTAL (415) 355-2886
190 Lenox Way (at Ulloa) 94127
M: 1-6; T: 10-9; W: 10-9; Th: 10-9; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-5

WESTERN ADDITION (415) 355-5727
1550 Scott St. (at Geary) 94115
M: 10-6; T: 10-6; W: 1-8; Th: 10-7; F: 1-6;
Sat: 10-6; Sun: 1-6

MOBILE OUTREACH SERVICES (415) 557-4346
TREASURE ISLAND LOCATION:
Chapel Parking Lot West at Avenue of the Palms
and California Ave. M: 10-1; Th: 2-6

EARLY LITERACY BOOKMOBILE (415) 557-4346
Call for hours and locations.

GREEN BOOKMOBILE (415) 557-4346
Call for hours and locations.

TECHMOBILE (415) 557-4346
Call for hours and locations.

LIBRARY ON WHEELS/SENIOR (415) 557-4346

BOOKMOBILE –
Call for hours and locations.
All locations are wheelchair accessible and have wifi access (except bookmobiles.) WEB SITE: sfpl.org

Using the library

“Do you use your library for anything other than checking out books?”

I love going to the main library.  There is always something going on.  They have movies and lectures scheduled frequently.  I look through the stacks because there are so many books in the big library.  I sit and read where it’s quiet and others are like-minded.  I have taken chess classes there, but my schedule doesn’t work with the days of the classes anymore.

I love taking public transportation there.  There is never parking at the main library, and public transportation provides a show, usually.

They have a free impromptu show going on constantly with a changing cast – the homeless and general crazies who come in out of the cold and wind, and sometimes the heat.   The bathroom, especially, is entertaining.  Someone is always having a conversation there, usually with herself.

I love the used book sales.  I have volunteered for the big one.  I plan on volunteering again sometime.  I just can’t commit to regular days or times.

I tend to use my local library to pick up holds.  I look online for what I want and then request that it be sent to my local library.  I still browse through the books, to see if there’s anything wonderful I am missing.  I rarely leave empty handed.