How To Get A Library Card in San Francisco

Step 5 Get Your Learn On

Ta-daaaah! You now have full access to an indescribable amount of knowledge and good times. And all just a quick jaunt away; work your library time into your walk home from work, or as an after dinner stroll (they're open late).

A few last things to keep in mind:

-Despite lots of government services being strangely low-tech in San Francisco, plenty of libraries have down right space-age facilities-- like self-check-out machines.

-You can request any book, DVD, CD etc you can't find by talking to a librarian or doing it online.

-Late fees are 10 cents per day for books and $1 a day for videos so avoid them by renewing your materials by phone at [phone] or online using your account.

-There are lots of non-English books available.

-Your card expires after two years but you can renew it for free.

-You can call [phone] for all questions about your account.

-Most libraries have all sorts of special events and facilities, like book clubs, knitting clubs and reading rooms for kids. Check out the calendar at your library to see if there's anything you like.

-Music lovers: you can check out all manner of music scores and recordings at the main library.

-And perhaps the most amazing thing of all: you can call [phone] and someone will TELL YOU A STORY. And to top that off, they can do it in English, Spanish (437-4882) or Cantonese (437-4883).

Whoever said, "The Library is the coolest place on earth," was totally right.

And by all means, check out the LIBRARY CART DRILL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS held every year by the American Library Association (ALA). There's dancing, there's book carts, there's glitter. It just might make you want to be a librarian. Or at least crash the next ALA conference.

Here are the 2008 videos and 2007.